The Federal Government on Thursday said the October 13 earlier fixed for primary and secondary schools to resume their current long vacation could still be extended or shortened, depending on the situation of things on the Ebola virus disease in the country.
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja, said the unfolding development as a result of the disease would determine whether the resumption time would be further extended or fixed for an earlier date.
He appealed to Nigerians not to complain as the Federal Government’s decision was taken in the best interest of all Nigerians.
Chukwu said, “About the closure of primary and secondary schools, any date is tentative. It is possible for government to decide to reopen schools earlier than October 13 or even extend it.
“It depends on what we are having on ground in Nigeria. It is good to play safe since we have a number of contacts we are following and we don’t know who may develop the disease among them.
“For children, I am always careful. Children, as we know, don’t start complaining immediately they develop illness. It is the parents that usually observed them. So, we need to be extra careful.”
The minister maintained that the disease was still being contained in Lagos, as the only person living with the virus was currently receiving treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos.
He said the result of the test carried out on the widow of the doctor that died in Port Harcourt and the discharge of the only victim in the isolation ward would determine the next step that government would take on the issue of schools resumption.
The minister also clarified that the Federal Government had not banned mass gathering of people but that the organisers must obtain approval from the Federal Ministry of Health.
He said, “As government, we have not banned mass gathering in Nigeria but such gathering outside a hall, church or mosque must be with the approval of the Ministry of Health. We are doing this to protect our people.”
The minister added that the country was considering the closure of its borders.
