As coronavirus pandemic scare continues, National Universities Commission, Friday, ordered the closure of universities across the country for a month beginning from March 23, 2020.
This is contained in a circular signed by the NUC’s deputy executive secretary, Suleiman Rammon-Yusuf.
This is in line with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, ordering the closure of tertiary, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.
NUC said the directive is necessary to curtail the further spread of the COVID-19 across the country.
“I write at the bearest of the Executive Secretary to inform Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities that as part of measures to contain and prevent the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) throughout the country, approval has been granted for the closure of all schools for a period of one (1) month, commencing from Monday, 23rd March, 2020,” the circular said.
The circular also said universities shall be closed for one month as from Monday, March 23.
”Vice-Chancellors are kindly requested to ensure immediate compliance,” the circular said.
When contacted Friday afternoon, the spokesperson of the commission, Ibrahim Yakassai, confirmed the development.
”It is a directive from the federal government to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education, Thursday, closed all tertiary, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono, Thursday night, confirmed this to journalists.
The ministry is also ordering the closure of all the 104 Unity Schools in the country from March 26 as a proactive step to prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
Coronavirus cases have been recorded in about 140 countries and more than 200,000 persons have been infected, with more than10,000 dead.
Currently, Nigeria has 12 cases, although authorities say one of the victims has fully recovered.
