Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says God allowed the novel coronavirus to afflict the world in order to bring people back to him.
The 50-year-old said this in a tweet late Wednesday.
Mr Keyamo called on all people to ask for forgiveness from God and the virus will become a thing of the past.
“God has allowed COVID-19 to afflict the human race only to redirect our steps back to Him,” he said.
“We have so distorted God’s Word to suit our own human weaknesses and satisfy our greed, even in supposed Holy Places. We should collectively ask for forgiveness & it will all end in praise.”
In another tweet, he said: “Aside the spiritual angle to this scourge, we must all work and pray; God can only help those who help themselves.
“Those our recalcitrant pastors must realise this. All the directives of @NCDCgov must be followed to the letter by all and sundry before it can quickly end in praise.”
There are currently 51 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria.
One person, a 67-year-old man, has died of the virus in the country while two persons have been released after testing negative.
