COVID-19: Akwa Ibom Won’t Rush to Reopen Schools, says Gov
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, says his government will not rush to reopen schools because other states are doing the same.
He also lifted the ban on wedding and burial ceremonies in the state but emphasized that Covid-19 protocols be observed at both functions.
Emmanuel, who spoke in a broadcast on Thursday night, said the State Executive Council would meet soon to review the reopening of schools, adding that schools would remain shut should the committee found it unsafe for resumption.
He said, “Akwa Ibom will not copy anybody and rush to reopen schools. This is not the time to copy anybody, you must localize your own situation. If after our assessment we see that we cannot open our schools at the same time as others, we will keep the schools closed.
“We will allow people to bury their loved ones because mortuaries are getting fuller. Also, we will allow weddings effective Saturday, July 4. I know how we celebrate burials, but please let’s look at the situation at hand that we are trying to manage. The primary aim of every single guideline rolled out by the government is to protect lives. Please follow the guidelines.”
Ayooluwa Joshua