No Schools Reopening as Nigerians Await Possible Lockdown Extension

 

No Schools Reopening as Nigerians Await Possible Lockdown Extension

Nigerians are expecting a national broadcast this evening 7PM where President Muhammadu Buhari is likely going to announce an extension of lockdown in parts of the country.

A 14-day lockdown of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States would end by 11:59 pm today. Going by the statistics released by Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control, COVID-19 might be entering into the phase of community infection in the country.

Currently, Lagos has the highest number of infections, followed by Abuja. Nigeria currently has 323 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Eighty five have been discharged and 10 deaths have been recorded.

 Meanwhile,  Federal Ministry of Education has appealed to Nigerians to ignore reports in circulation that claim the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, has directed the reopening of schools.

The spokesperson of the ministry, Ben Gooong, in a statement on Sunday night, said there was no such directive from the minister because everyone had been instructed to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Gooong said parents and guardians must not be misled by fake news but should continue to abide by the government’s regulations to tackle the ravaging pandemic.

“On the issue of reopening of schools, the ministry has not directed the reopening of any school at any level,” he said.

He said the purported press release alleged to have been issued by the minister that schools should reopen, is a clear case of forgery as it did not emanate from the minister.

“Parents, students and the general public are advised to please disregard the fake release. There is also another story making the rounds that the Federal Government has blamed the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities on vice-chancellors. At no time did any Federal Government official make that kind of statement,” he said.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the federal government ordered the closure of all Nigerian institutions to help contain the spread.