Nigeria lawmakers oppose school reopening plan

Nigerian MPs have asked the federal government to postpone the planned reopening of schools by three months citing rising Covid-19 cases.

Schools were scheduled to reopen on Monday.

Parliament's committee on education said it was concerned about the rush to reopen schools amid a new spike of 1,000 new infections reported daily.

Committee chairwoman, Julius Ihonvbere, suggested that learners should stay at home until schools can report 75% compliance to Covid-19 protocols.

"Aside from Lagos and a couple of other states, governments are unable to enforce Covid-19 protocols. People no longer wear face masks or use sanitizers," said Mr Ihonvbere.

The committee wants the government to monitor compliance in community and readiness of schools first before allowing children back to schools.

Mr Ihonvbere tweeted a thread of the full statement:

“HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND SERVICES, ABUJA. SCHOOL RESUMPTION: ARE WE TRULY PREPARED? The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives has received with some concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools”

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: @HonIhonvbere/Twitter