COVID-19: Why Nigerian Government re-opened schools for graduating students
By Bartholomew Madukwe
The Nigerian Government has announced the safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations, as it extended the Phase Two of the eased COVID-19 lockdown by four weeks.
Boss Mustapha, SGF
Disclosing this during a press briefing on Monday, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, said there will also be safe re-opening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable and interstate movements would only take place outside curfew hours.
In his words, "I am pleased to inform you that Mr President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020, through midnight of Monday, 27 July 2020.
“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect: maintaining the current phase of the national response for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatriated by the National Coordinator; permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July 2020; enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by states in particular the use of face masks in public places; safe reopening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations and; safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable.
“Within the month under review, the PTF continued to monitor developments and consistently admonished Nigerians to change their behaviour in view of the fact that the spread of the virus had entered the community phase.
"It is the considered opinion of the PTF that Nigerians, though aware of the existence of the virus, have generally misunderstood the objectives behind the reasoning of government in gradually relaxing the restrictions".
Mustapha explained that the PTF in conjunction with sub-national entities, the organised private sector, put in places a number of measures and also escalated its activities around risk communication to Nigerians.
He added: "But we have observed with growing concern the non-compliances with these measures designed to prevent transmission and protect vulnerable segments of the population.
"We hold the strong view that if such actions do not abate, experiences of resurgence of the virus from other jurisdictions including China, the United States of America, Brazil and across Europe may emerge in Nigeria and we run the risk of erasing the gains made in the last three months".
On 9 March, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.
It would be recalled that on 19 March, Anambra State government announced the closure of their schools and suspension of public gatherings indefinitely, tertiary institutions to close from 20 March, while primary and secondary schools to close from 27 March. Ogun State government extended an earlier ban to schools and religious centres in the state indefinitely.
Federal government announced the closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools. Enugu State government also ordered the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state from 27 March, as Ekiti State government banned social, political, religious and family gatherings of more than 20 persons. and ordered the closure of all their schools from 23 March.
Nigeria announced the closure of their international airports, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano airports from 21 March. Rivers State government also announced the closure of all their schools and directed the restriction of all religious activities.
Osun State government banned any public gatherings of more than 50 persons in the state with immediate effect, including schools, churches and mosques. Delta State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March.
Also, Kebbi State government announced the indefinite closure of all their primary and secondary schools and Oyo State government too ordered the closure of schools in the state.
Bayelsa State government also ordered the closure of all schools in the state from 26 March.
On 22 March, Edo State government announced the closure of all their schools from 23 March.
On 24 March, Yobe State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March and Nasarawa State government ordered the indefinite closure of all their schools with immediate effect.
OVERVIEW OF LOCKDOWN IN NIGERIA FROM APRIL TILL JUNE
On 1 April, Taraba State government announced the banning of all public gatherings of more than 20 persons in the state. The state government also ordered the closure of all markets with immediate effect, except those providing essential services such as; pharmacies, food stores and petrol service stations. Ondo State government announced the closure of their state borders with effect from 2 April, prohibiting inter-state travels into the state.
On 2 April, Bauchi State government reversed the total lockdown in the state. Akwa Ibom State government announced an indefinite lockdown of their state, directing residents to stay at home, closing all business premises, markets, shops, motor parks and offices, allowing only grocery shops, pharmacies and those on essential services to operate.
On 5 April, Niger State government relaxed their restriction order with immediate effect, restricting movement from 2 pm to 10pm and allowing movement from 8am to 2pm every day.
On 9 April, Kwara State government announced the total lockdown of their state for 14 days from 10 April, exempting vehicles carrying goods and services. The state government allowed markets selling foods and medications to open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 10am and 2pm.
On 11 April, Anambra State government announced an immediate lockdown of their state for 14 days, directing residents to stay at home and allowing only those on essential services to move around. Niger State government announced the lockdown of their state from 13 April, exempting those on essential services.
On 13 April, federal government extended the lockdown of Lagos State, Ogun State and the FCT, for another two weeks from 11pm on 13 April. Ekiti State extended their state lockdown for another fourteen days.
On 14 April, Delta and Osun States extended their state lockdown for another fourteen days. Kano State announced the total lockdown of their state for seven days from 16 April, ordering residents to stay at home, closing all markets, places of worship and public gatherings in state.
On 17 April, at least 18 people in Nigeria have been killed by security forces during the enforcement of measures to curb the spread of the virus.
On 20 April, Nigeria extended the closure of airports to another 2 weeks. Borno State government announced a fourteen days lockdown of their state from 22 April, restricting movement of individuals, banning public gatherings, and allowing providers of essential services.
On 21 April, Taraba State government announced a total lockdown of their state from 22 April, restricting movement of individuals and vehicles and allowing workers on essential duties, such as health workers, pharmaceutical shops, fuel stations and media houses.
On 23 April, Kwara State government extended their lockdown for another two weeks. On 25 April, Anambra State government lifted their lockdown. On 26 April, Kaduna State government extended their state lockdown for 30 days.
On 27 April, federal government announced the locking down of Kano State, for a period of two weeks with immediate effect. The government also extended the locking down of Lagos State, Ogun State and the FCT, for a period of one week, announcing an indefinite nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am starting on 4 May, while also placing an indefinite ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel, allowing partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services, announcing the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public places, and extending the ban on social and religious gatherings. Anambra State government announced the reopening of the their 63 major markets from 4 May.
On 28 April, Delta State government announced the relaxing of their lockdown from 30 April.
MAY
On 8 May, Abia State government announced the relaxing of their lockdown from 11 May. On 18 May, the federal government extended the locking down of Kano State for another two weeks, while also extending the nationwide curfew for another two weeks.
JUNE
On 1 June, the federal government relaxed the lockdown imposed on Kano State and the ban placed on religious gatherings and banking operations for a period of four weeks, while also announcing the re-opening of domestic airline operations from 21 June. The federal government shortened the curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.
The Nigerian Government has announced the safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations, as it extended the Phase Two of the eased COVID-19 lockdown by four weeks.
Disclosing this during a press briefing on Monday, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, said there will also be safe re-opening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable and interstate movements would only take place outside curfew hours.
In his words, "I am pleased to inform you that Mr President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020, through midnight of Monday, 27 July 2020.
“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect: maintaining the current phase of the national response for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatriated by the National Coordinator; permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July 2020; enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by states in particular the use of face masks in public places; safe reopening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations and; safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable.
“Within the month under review, the PTF continued to monitor developments and consistently admonished Nigerians to change their behaviour in view of the fact that the spread of the virus had entered the community phase.
"It is the considered opinion of the PTF that Nigerians, though aware of the existence of the virus, have generally misunderstood the objectives behind the reasoning of government in gradually relaxing the restrictions".
He added: "But we have observed with growing concern the non-compliances with these measures designed to prevent transmission and protect vulnerable segments of the population.
"We hold the strong view that if such actions do not abate, experiences of resurgence of the virus from other jurisdictions including China, the United States of America, Brazil and across Europe may emerge in Nigeria and we run the risk of erasing the gains made in the last three months".
On 9 March, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.
It would be recalled that on 19 March, Anambra State government announced the closure of their schools and suspension of public gatherings indefinitely, tertiary institutions to close from 20 March, while primary and secondary schools to close from 27 March. Ogun State government extended an earlier ban to schools and religious centres in the state indefinitely.
Nigeria announced the closure of their international airports, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano airports from 21 March. Rivers State government also announced the closure of all their schools and directed the restriction of all religious activities.
Osun State government banned any public gatherings of more than 50 persons in the state with immediate effect, including schools, churches and mosques. Delta State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March.
Also, Kebbi State government announced the indefinite closure of all their primary and secondary schools and Oyo State government too ordered the closure of schools in the state.
Bayelsa State government also ordered the closure of all schools in the state from 26 March.
On 22 March, Edo State government announced the closure of all their schools from 23 March.
On 24 March, Yobe State government announced the closure of all their schools from 26 March and Nasarawa State government ordered the indefinite closure of all their schools with immediate effect.
On 1 April, Taraba State government announced the banning of all public gatherings of more than 20 persons in the state. The state government also ordered the closure of all markets with immediate effect, except those providing essential services such as; pharmacies, food stores and petrol service stations. Ondo State government announced the closure of their state borders with effect from 2 April, prohibiting inter-state travels into the state.
On 2 April, Bauchi State government reversed the total lockdown in the state. Akwa Ibom State government announced an indefinite lockdown of their state, directing residents to stay at home, closing all business premises, markets, shops, motor parks and offices, allowing only grocery shops, pharmacies and those on essential services to operate.
On 5 April, Niger State government relaxed their restriction order with immediate effect, restricting movement from 2 pm to 10pm and allowing movement from 8am to 2pm every day.
On 9 April, Kwara State government announced the total lockdown of their state for 14 days from 10 April, exempting vehicles carrying goods and services. The state government allowed markets selling foods and medications to open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 10am and 2pm.
On 11 April, Anambra State government announced an immediate lockdown of their state for 14 days, directing residents to stay at home and allowing only those on essential services to move around. Niger State government announced the lockdown of their state from 13 April, exempting those on essential services.
On 13 April, federal government extended the lockdown of Lagos State, Ogun State and the FCT, for another two weeks from 11pm on 13 April. Ekiti State extended their state lockdown for another fourteen days.
On 14 April, Delta and Osun States extended their state lockdown for another fourteen days. Kano State announced the total lockdown of their state for seven days from 16 April, ordering residents to stay at home, closing all markets, places of worship and public gatherings in state.
On 17 April, at least 18 people in Nigeria have been killed by security forces during the enforcement of measures to curb the spread of the virus.
On 20 April, Nigeria extended the closure of airports to another 2 weeks. Borno State government announced a fourteen days lockdown of their state from 22 April, restricting movement of individuals, banning public gatherings, and allowing providers of essential services.
On 21 April, Taraba State government announced a total lockdown of their state from 22 April, restricting movement of individuals and vehicles and allowing workers on essential duties, such as health workers, pharmaceutical shops, fuel stations and media houses.
On 23 April, Kwara State government extended their lockdown for another two weeks. On 25 April, Anambra State government lifted their lockdown. On 26 April, Kaduna State government extended their state lockdown for 30 days.
On 27 April, federal government announced the locking down of Kano State, for a period of two weeks with immediate effect. The government also extended the locking down of Lagos State, Ogun State and the FCT, for a period of one week, announcing an indefinite nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am starting on 4 May, while also placing an indefinite ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel, allowing partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services, announcing the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public places, and extending the ban on social and religious gatherings. Anambra State government announced the reopening of the their 63 major markets from 4 May.
On 28 April, Delta State government announced the relaxing of their lockdown from 30 April.
MAY
On 8 May, Abia State government announced the relaxing of their lockdown from 11 May. On 18 May, the federal government extended the locking down of Kano State for another two weeks, while also extending the nationwide curfew for another two weeks.
JUNE
On 1 June, the federal government relaxed the lockdown imposed on Kano State and the ban placed on religious gatherings and banking operations for a period of four weeks, while also announcing the re-opening of domestic airline operations from 21 June. The federal government shortened the curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.
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