Akwa Ibom government laments continued closure of schools, plans reopening

Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has said that he was desirous of opening up schools in the state.

Emmanuel, who spoke in Uyo during a media update on COVID-19 pandemic, lamented that the school radio programme initiated by the state government to help students study while schools remain closed had not entirely realised its purpose.

According to him, not many homes in the state can have access to the school radio programme, noting that he was concerned and worried that children were still at home.

He said if the COVID-19 pandemic does not abate for schools to resume, the government would look for a way around the situation, saying that life cannot continue to remain at a standstill because of COVID-19.

He mentioned that once a solution was localised for COVID-19 so that it could be possible for schools to resume, he was in a haste to see that schools re-open.

“I am so worried about education because no matter what we tried to do, it’s not all that can benefit from our radio teaching programme.

“The very reason we couldn’t do other ICT methodology of getting across to our pupils and students is that not all parents can afford a smartphone and not all parents can afford a TV. So, we had to leave for those who are not robust financially.
“Even with that, we are still not convinced that we have got the best out of our radio programme. So, I’m so worried about opening up of schools. We can’t just allow our children to suffer this long without going back to school.

The governor, who noted that a lot of churches have followed the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) guidelines for the reopening of churches, said the erring ones had been pardoned and advised that others stick to the guidelines as instructed.

He said the government had to return dead bodies smuggled into the state from neighbouring states, and warned people to desist from trying to bring in dead bodies into the state for burial.

He explained that the ban on burials, weddings and any other social gathering was still in force and encouraged compliance until the ban is lifted.