The Federal Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate closure
of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools nationwide over
the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country and as part of measures
to contain the spread.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, confirmed this to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
When sent an inquiry through a text message, Echono simply replied, “Confirmed.”
A release later released by the ministry added that the Minister of
Education, Adamu Adamu, asked all principals of the 104 Unity Colleges
“to fast-track the ongoing second term examinations and close shop until
further notice.”
The ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong,
in the release, said, “The Federal Government has ordered the closure of
all the 104 Unity Schools in the country on March 26, 2020, as a
proactive step aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded
coronavirus.”
“In the meantime, the minister said the management of all the unity
colleges should immediately activate the necessary emergency procedures
and processes such as the provision of alcohol-based sanitisers, and
handwashing facilities among others.
“The minister directed the principals to immediately report any suspicious case to the nearest health authorities.”