FG may reopen schools soon, minister tells protesting students

Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba

The Minister of State for Education , Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba , says the Federal Government has started considering full reopening schools .

Nwajiuba said this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID - 19 on Monday in Abuja, monitored by our correspondent .

Though he said no date has been fixed yet for full schools ’ resumption , the minister urged protesting students to “ be patient with FG ” .

He explained that the government had continued to engage stakeholders , some of whom have expressed readiness to resume fully .

Secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria were closed due to the COVID - 19 pandemic on March 19 , 2020 .

The minister expressed optimism that the date for resumption was “ around the corner” .

He disclosed that he and the Minister of Education , Adamu Adamu , met some stakeholders in tertiary education on Monday on the issue .

Nwajiuba said about 78 privately - owned universities were insisting that they were ready for resumption while the response from government - owned universities was still “ 50 - 50 . ”

He said that after aggregating opinions, he would return to the PTF to review the situation and then go ahead to make a pronouncement .

“ I urge our students who have actually exercised a lot of patience along with their parents … I urge you to bear with us a little bit more . The rioting needs to stop ; there is nothing to riot about .

“ We don’ t want to bandy around dates , ” he said , “ We remain positive , ” he added .