BREAKING: CORONAVIRUS- PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN LAGOS BEGIN TO SHUT DOWN AS GOVERNMENT BANS LARGE RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS

Following the rising number of suspected cases of  COVID19 also known as Coronavirus in Lagos State, Nigeria the State Government yesterday announced a ban on large religious gatherings effective immediately.

The decision was contained in a communiqué signed at the end of an emergency meeting between the state government and religious leaders in the state Wednesday.

The ban which was tagged “suspension” will be for an initial four weeks, according to the communiqué which was read by the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Olanrewaju Anofiu Elegushi, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Elegushi read the directive on behalf of Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIRC), Lagos chapter after extensive debate with the representatives of leaders from both Christian and Islamic organizations.

Children wash their hands against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hand washing station set up by community organisation Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Following suit, it has been gathered from reliable sources that some schools have concluded arrangements to shut down indefinitely. In a directive made available exclusively to The News Hall, a private school (name withheld) in Lagos  announced that the school will be closing today for an indefinite period.

The directive reads thus:

"Due to the prevailing situation in the country, the school will be closing from today. Examinations have been postponed indefinitely. Cultural day and PTF meeting have also been postponed. Other details will be passed on as we get more information. Please keep yourself and the children safe. Thank you''.