COVID-19: School resumption date remains Jan 18, says PTF

Contrary to reports that the government has postponed indefinitely school resumption, National Coordinator of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, has said the date remains January 18.

Speaking during a television programme on Tuesday, Aliyu said the date had not been changed pending further directives.

On Monday, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said the Federal Government was considering shifting the January 18 resumption date over rising COVID-19 cases.

He said there were concerns about the scheduled date, adding that the government might review it.

But Aliyu said no decision had been taken on the date, insisting January 18, 2021 remains intact.

“As regards schools, I just want to make a clarification. What the minister said yesterday was that they were going to review, he didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know,” Aliyu said.

“So, for the moment, it is still 18th January until the ministry of education comes back either with an alternative date or reconfirm that.”

Nigeria has recorded a total number of 102, 601  confirmed cases with 81,574 patients discharged and 1,373 dead as of Tuesday, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.