Schools will reopen at a “safe time”, says FG

Nigerian Government on Wednesday said schools across the nation will be reopened by at a safe time while it will soon roll out guidelines for the reopening.

“The Presidential Task Force wishes to use the occasion of this celebration to congratulate our children and assure them, their parents and all stakeholders alike that all hands are on deck to reopen schools at a safe time,” Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19, said.

“We, therefore, use this medium to urge states, local governments, proprietors and all other stakeholders to begin to take steps that will facilitate an early and safe reopening,” he added.

The Federal Ministry of Education on March 19 ordered closure of all tertiary, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country. The ministry said it is part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Mustapha said there has been deliberation on this situation and that the Federal Ministry of Education will release measures to be put in place for safe re-opening of our schools.

“The Hon. Minister of Education (State) will be elaborating on the subject, this afternoon. He will also clarify the purported announcement of the resumption date which went viral last week.”

While commiserating the Children’s Day worldwide, Mustapha said the nation was faced with the challenge of out of school children even before the pandemic.

He said the present reality “has now been compounded by the compelling need for closure of schools as part of the measures to limit the spread of the virus.”