Federal Govt. to Review Jan 18th School Resumption Date

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The Federal Government of Nigeria through its Ministry of Education has said it will review the January 18 date earlier fixed for resumption of schools.

It has also begun talks with state governors on the review of curfew hours in different parts of the country as a curb to nightly activities and entertainment, which are considered to be driving the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.

This is coming as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians against allowing COVID-19 infections to escalate to a level that it will stretch health facilities to their limits.

Speaking yesterday while answering questions during a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, attributed the decision to review the resumption date to the second wave of COVID-19 currently ravaging the country.

Adamu said: “It (January 18 date of school reopening) is not sacrosanct. When we decided on that date, it was just a target towards what we were working on. Of course, we are keeping it in view and looking at what is happening in society, and then it is supposed to be subject to constant review.

“Even today (Monday) at the PTF meeting, we looked at the rising figures and thought about if we should probably take another look at it. On the January 18 resumption, we are reviewing it, we are going to review it. At the PTF meeting today (Monday) we considered it and tomorrow (today), the ministry is going to take it up.”

The PTF has also said travels, reopening of schools, businesses and religious centers contributed to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria.

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, during the media briefing in Abuja, said: “It is, however, very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rising in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities, reopening of schools without strict compliance with COIVID-19 safety measures.

“The full import of the foregoing is to press further on the need for us all to elevate the level of our vigilance and compliance with the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions.”

The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, also said the PTF and the governors met last week to review the COVID-19 protocol and deepen the community engagement and enforcement of protocols.

He added that the talks also included reviewing curfew hours put in place as a curb to nightly activities and entertainment, which are considered to be driving the upsurge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.

Source: ThisDayLive