Ogun, Benue and Enugu State Governments have ordered the closure of schools in their states to forestall the spread of the coronavirus.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) also on Thursday directed that both public and private schools in the territory should be shut down until further notice.
Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State Governor, Kunle Somorin, disclosed in a statement that the ban on high-density gatherings affected all schools – public and private – as well as all religious activities in the state.
The statement read: “Consequently, all schools in the state will remain closed indefinitely after school hours on Friday, March 20, 2020.
“Also, all religious centres and activities including regular and special services that bring together 50 or more persons in the same place are banned with immediate effect.
“These measures will be reviewed at regular intervals in response to the development surrounding the coronavirus disease.”
Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council Meeting on Thursday, Benue Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, said all schools in the state had been directed to conclude examinations on or before March 27 and proceed on holiday.
The commissioner urged schools to ensure that physical contact is 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.
Enugu Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, told NAN that the government had directed all primary and secondary schools in the state to close for the term on or before March 27.
The commissioner said that all schools in the state were expected to have started their second term examination, adding that the period before the closure would afford them the opportunity to conclude the examination.
He said that the directive may not affect the date for school resumption for third term, except if there were issues that would warrant that.
FCT Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu, directed the closure of schools in Abuja during a meeting with Heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) under her supervision.
Aliyu also directed that social gatherings and worship centres should be restricted to avoid large gatherings that could further endanger the health of others.
