Ondo and Ogun state governments have cancelled cross over vigils and shifted the resumption of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools to January 18.
Chairman, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on Coronavirus, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi made the state measures known at a news conference on Wednesday in Akure.
Fatusi, also the vice-chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, said the committee has had extensive interaction with various stakeholders, physically and virtually on the need to take proactive measures against the second wave of COVID-19.
According to him, the state is working assiduously to ensure it records no substantial case during the second wave of the pandemic.
He implored people to pay due attention and observe the precautionary measures put in place to safeguard them.
The chairman explained that no church service organised in respect of the New Year must exceed 10 p.m. until further notice, in line with the Federal Government’s protocols.
According to him, government and business offices shall continue to open, with strict compliance to COVID-19 precautionary measures, while markets shall continue to operate in line with the laid down protocols.
“Night clubs and relaxation spots must not operate beyond 10p.m., picnics can operate but in open space and adherence to COVID-19 protocols.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State who called for restraint in celebrations during the Christmas and New Year festivities, announced the suspension of street carnivals, crowded cross-over night service, parties and similar gatherings.
The governor also directed all civil servants and other government workers in the state to proceed on Christmas and New Year holiday from today.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin, the directives were issued on Wednesday after a meeting between the state government and religious leaders from the League of Imams and the Christian Association of Nigeria as well as community leaders as part of the measures and guidelines for public health as the state prepares for a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
