CONTINUOUS LOCKDOWN OF SCHOOLS OVER COVID-19, MORE TRAGIC.…Says Olorunmagba

"If the government had been proactive in closing all borders on time as preventive measures, when many notable Nigerians including NNPP were raising alarm, the pandemic would not have even been imported into Nigeria in the first place".... Rev. Olorunmagba.

The New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) has decried the continuous lockdown of schools in Nigeria, describing it as more tragic than the fear of Coronavirus Covid-19 that initially led to the closure.

The party however, commended the initial order for the suspension of public gathering including closure of schools in order to contain the spread of the avoidable Covid-19.

The NNPP in a statement issued and signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Reverend Emmanuel Olorunmagba, said the party however notes that, "if the government had been proactive in closing all borders on time as preventive measures, when many notable Nigerians including NNPP were raising alarm, the pandemic would not have even been imported into Nigeria in the first place".

"But, if markets and shopping centers can be allowed to open, the high and ranking personalities in Nigeria still hold occasions with large gathering, elections can hold both in Edo and Ondo States and the president of Nigeria can resume his foreign trips, then the continual closure of both private and public schools, which can easily be made to operate, strictly under Covid-19 safety compliance, is beginning to portray the present administration as if they place low value on education and by implications cares less for the future of our coming generation", he queried.

"It is so pathetic that children have been out of school for long, resulting in gradual loss of interest in studies. And many private school teachers are becoming vulnerable with their families going hungry, since they have been forced out of jobs, without any form of palliatives to cushion the effects".

"Yet the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown have been so terrible on both the economy of the country and person businesses. Hence, it's difficult for most of those private school teachers to get other sources of income to cater for their families".

"Is it until the family members of private school teachers are beginning to die of starvation before the government will do something? He asked.

The NNPP therefore, called on the federal as well as the various state governments to look into the issue of reopening of schools, but with measures to ensure Covid-19 safety compliant as a matter of urgency.