The federal government of Nigeria in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, banned physical gathering for religious purposes as a way of curbing the virus, forcing all churches to adapt to online services. The first case of the coronavirus infection in Nigeria was recorded in Lagos State in February 2020 and religious places of worship were generally shut down in March. 

Gradually as the imposed lockdown was reviewed after many weeks, the government lifted the total ban on physical gathering for religious purposes and allowed physical worship to resume based on stipulated COVID-19 guidelines. 

Some state governments particularly, Lagos and Ogun with peculiar cases of the coronavirus pandemic also decided to extend the ban on physical gatherings for religious purposes even after the federal government had lifted the restrictions. The Lagos State government on 1st of August announced that worship centres (Churches and Mosques) in the nation's commercial city, will reopen effective August 7, 2020. 

Similarly, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has tentatively fixed reopening of worship centres (Churches, Mosques) for August 14. However, even after the announcements by the government, some pastors and churches have announced they won't be reopening for physical gatherings just yet. 

The pastors gave worries about the safety of their members as their reasons not to resume physical worship yet. Here are some of those that have openly decided against returning to physical church gatherings for now and their reasons.

Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), formerly known as the Latter Rain Assembly has spoken against the reopening of churches as directed by the Lagos State Government. Speaking during one of the online Sunday worship,

 Pastor Bakare kicked against the order. He said: “I have to appeal to you once again, please keep safe and do your best to stay alive. Do not let anyone, whether religious leader or governmental leader, to drive you like a sheep to the slaughter. 

The Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) has said that it will not reopen its churches in Lagos and Ogun States despite government directives. In a statement, the Chairman of the MFM Media Committee, Pastor Oladele Bank-Olemoh, said that the church will not reopen until the September tentative period. 

Pastor Chris Okotie, the senior pastor of the Household of God Church, has also declared he won't be reopening churches for physical worship yet. The pastor also kicked against wearing a face mask in the church. 

Speaking in a 28-minute special broadcast to his church members, Pastor Chris Okotie said wearing a face mask or face shield in the church goes against the basic tenets of the Christian faith. Citing various Bible references, Okotie said wearing a mask or a face shield to church is separation from God because it is like reintroducing the veil which was torn the moment Jesus died on the cross. 

Pastor Sam Adeyemi and his wife, Nike Adeyemi, Senior Pastors of the Daystar Christian Centre have told their Church members to observe their services from home, noting that the Church will only resume physical services when the environment is safe.