‘Our Decision To Shut Schools Was Preventive’, Says Kogi Government

The Kogi State Government has clarified that the temporary closure of schools across the state was a purely preventive measure, taken on the basis of credible intelligence and the overriding need to put protective measures in place around schools to safeguard pupils, students, and teachers.

The clarification was coming against the backdrop of public outcries after an abrupt closure of all schools on Tuesday affecting both privately owned and government owned schools across the state, by the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led government.

The closure has come under heavy criticism over what some citizens termed as lack of proper consultations and due diligence.

However, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, which was made available to journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday, the State Government explained that the decision was not borne out of panic, but of responsibility, stressing that the government chose to act proactively rather than wait for avoidable incidents.

According to him, Governor Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately deploy necessary modalities to ensure that schools resume academic activities as soon as it is safe, so as not to disrupt the state’s academic calendar.

Fanwo commended the security agencies for their timely and actionable intelligence, noting that such cooperation underscored the effectiveness of the state’s security architecture.

He reassured the people of Kogi State that the government was fully on top of the situation, adding that security agencies were already working round the clock to identify, locate, and decisively deal with criminal hideouts.

“The safety of our children, teachers, and educational institutions remains non-negotiable. This administration will always prioritise lives while ensuring continuity in governance and education,” Fanwo added.