COVID-19: Anambra, Benue Lagos, and North West States Shuts Down All Schools

As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, some states in Nigeria have suspended all public gathering of more than 50 people at a time.

North West states, Anambra, Benue and the Lagos State Government have moved to close down both private and public schools from March.

Anambra and Lagos state government says it will be closing down all public and private schools from Monday, 23rd March 2020. Anambra state government also included universities to the clampdown. While North West states have close down schools for 30 days.

The commissioner urged schools to ensure that physical contact was restricted before the end of the examinations.

In another report, the Benue State Government has also ordered the closure of all schools from Friday as part of measures to protect the state from Coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Nation, Commissioner for Education in the state, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, said all schools in Benue had been directed to conclude examinations on or before March 27 and proceed on holiday.

The commissioner urged schools to ensure that physical contact was restricted before the end of the examinations.

He stated that the decision to close schools before the scheduled end of the current academic term had become necessary as part of measures to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the state.

Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, Dr. Sunday Ongbabor, said Benue had established an isolation centre at the State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, the capital.

He said surveillance against Coronavirus had been stepped up and advised people to avoid shaking of hands and observe personal hygiene.

The state government said the move became necessary to prevent children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.