TheCable

The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) and Enugu state have announced indefinite closure of schools over fears of coronavirus.

Ramatu Aliyu, FCT minister of state; and Uche Eze, Enugu commissioner of education, made the announcements at separate occasions on Thursday.

The commissioner told NAN primary and secondary schools in Enugu are to close on or before March 27.

Similarly, the minister said during a meeting with heads of FCT departments and agencies in Abuja, both public and private schools in the nation’s capital were directed to shut down, starting from Monday.

She also directed that social gatherings and worship centres should be ”restricted” to avoid the spread of the virus.

She said shop owners ”who fail to provide hand sanitizers and other preventive measures should be closed down indefinitely”.

“We should not endanger the lives of children for whatsoever reasons. When these children are in schools, they pick up anything and put them in their mouths without taking precautions of washing their hands,” Aliyu said.

“Therefore, the best and safer thing to do is to close down the schools for a week, two or even a month pending on the outcome.

“As a matter of fact, as from tomorrow being Friday, all public and private schools in the territory should be closed down indefinitely.

“In the same vein, social gatherings and worship centres should be restricted to avoid large crowds because of body contact. Health officers will ensure that shop owners who fail to put in preventive measures will be closed down.”

A number of other states including those in the north-western and Lagos had earlier announced similar bans over fears of the coronavirus.

There are currently 12 confirmed cases of the infection in Nigeria.