The Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo has come under fire on social media for planning to hold Sunday service tomorrow amidst the coronavirus crisis.
Fatoyinbo, whose church is headquartered in Guzape Hills area of Abuja, said that two services would hold in the church auditorium on Sunday.
The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed Saturday that three patients had been diagnosed with coronavirus in Abuja.
This came as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it had restricted attendance at religious, social and other gatherings to 50 persons at a time.
COZA is known to hold hundreds of worshippers at any given service.
The controversial pastor took to Instagram to share details of the two services, adding that safety measures had been adopted to prevent the spread of the virus.
See notice on Instagram:
But many Nigerians advised the pastor to shelve services, saying the measures might not prevent the spread of the disease.
Read comments:
If you are one of those attending COZA's "covenant of protection" service tomorrow, my advice is, it is NOT TOO LATE to be smarter than Biodun Fatoyinbo by staying at home, #StayHomeSaveLives
Abuja has 3 confirmed #coronavirus cases, it takes JUST 1 PERSON to spread the virus. https://t.co/nFj3gcZyCq pic.twitter.com/91q1kVARcf— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) March 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/OgbeniDipo/status/1241453680429236228
COZA won’t be the only church with loads of people in attendance tomorrow. I bet other churches are going to be full to capacity as well.
Malaysia had 153 new Coronavirus cases today; most traced to religious gatherings.
Gatherings should be a no-no for now. BE WISE. STAY SAFE!
— E (@iamOkon) March 21, 2020
Is it too extreme to cut someone off because they attend Coza?
— Kiki Mordi (@kikimordi) March 21, 2020
Why is Coza having a service tomorrow
Why
Like what level of irresponsibility is this.
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) March 21, 2020
If COZA holds a service tomorrow, the Police should go in there and break it up.
— Ikenna Ronald Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) March 21, 2020
You know the funny thing? COZA Dubai is doing service online. They can respect authorities in Dubai but it's COZA Guzape and Gwarimpa they want to use Blood of Jesus for.
— Bolouere (@boluxxxx) March 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1241461818180227075?p=v
Please who’s the minister of FCT that authorized COZA to have service tomorrow? Is COZA bigger than The lives of Nigerian? Is COZA above the law?
No disrespect intended but if you are attending COZA service tomorrow, then you are more stupid than Biodun Fatoyinbo himself.— Faith Paul (@Faithysia_blunt) March 21, 2020