Coronavirus: FG orders closure of tertiary institutions nationwide

The federal government has ordered closure of tertiary institutions and unity schools across the nation as a measure to check coronavirus.

Sonny Echono, permanent secretary of the ministry of education, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

“We have directed all higher institutions to close this weekend. Unity Schools that have completed their exams are to close immediately. Others are to hurry and close the latest on 26th March,” he said in a statement.

The federal government has also directed the principals of unity colleges nationwide to shut down.

“The Federal Government has ordered the closure of all the 104 Unity Schools in the country on the 26th of March, 2020 as a proactive step aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus,” Ben Goong, director of press in the ministry of education, said in a statement.

“Giving the order today through the Permanent Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, said all the Principals of the Unity Colleges should fast track the on-going second term examinations and close shop until further notice.

“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 sanitizers, and hand washing facilities among others, adding that students should strictly adhere to the principles and best practices of good hygiene.”

The principals were directed to immediately report any suspicious case to the nearest health authorities.

There are currently 12 active coronavirus cases in the country while the federal government has taken many measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The National Sports Festival, scheduled for Edo state, was cancelled, all orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps across the country were shut while travel ban was imposed on 13 high-risk countries, including China, UK and US.

Some state governments also banned public officials from foreign trips while advising Nigerians to cancel all travels abroad, especially to high-risk countries.