Nine Northern States Close Schools …Lagos, Ogun Ban Religious Gatherings, Night Clubs, Private Schools Shut …NYSC Shuts Orientation Camps Over Fear Of Spread

The nine states in Northern Nigeria have agreed to suspend schools for the next 30 days as a measure against the deadly COVID-19.
The states include Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kwara and Niger, respectively.
According to a source, these governors are currently holding a meeting to discuss other important things affecting their states and country at large.
The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was reported to have confirmed the suspension of schools in these states.
As part of measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Lagos State Government has banned all religious gathering of over 50 people within the state.
Similarly, all private schools in Lagos State have been shut until further notice.
According to a statement, yesterday, the decision was arrived at after a meeting of the Lagos State Government with religious bodies in the state, which included the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim leaders.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said the meeting agreed that “all large religious gathering of over 50 people should be suspended immediately”.
He said the suspension would last for four weeks with a necessary review carried out if need be.
He added that a committee had been set up to monitor the enforcement of the suspension to ensure that both Muslims and Christians in the state abide by the decision.
The 15-member committee comprises representatives of Muslims and Christians in the state.
The commissioner also said the meeting agreed that the state government should embark on massive sensitisation of people at the grassroots on the need to embrace proper hygiene.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, had earlier at a briefing said the advice to put religious gathering on hold in the interest of the public.
The Chairman of CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said, “We are at a critical moment in Nigeria, since we heard this, we have been praying. We have listened carefully to one another, particularly the government. The responsibility of every government is to protect the lives of the people.
“We must be proactive and take preventive measures. It is no longer the issue of religion but survival. We are going to accelerate the education of our people. We must listen to the instruction of the government and take the instruction seriously. We agree with the action of the government.”
In Ogun, the state government has banned social clubs, halls, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes, and sports arenas described as high-density gatherings of people.
The government said any gathering that brings either 50 or more people together has been banned for 30 days as part of precautions on the spread of Coronavirus in the state.
The governor stated this through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, yesterday.
He further said, “The safety of our people and their welfare are priorities that cannot be toyed with.
“Further to measures so far taken to ramp up its efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, the Ogun State Government has found it expedient to announce the following additional measures:
“Immediate ban of all high-density gatherings that would bring together 50 or more persons in the same place, such as social clubs, halls, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes, and sports arenas.
“This measure will be in effect for the next 30 days in the first instance.
“The government will continue the surveillance initiatives and intensify sensitization on COVID-19. This is more so given the peculiarity of its location as the Nation’s Gateway State and its industrial capital.
“Our epidemiologists and other health workers are working round the clock with Federal agencies and international development agencies to stop the spread of Coronavirus.”