Dare Babalola
The Kogi State Government has directed that all primary and secondary schools in the state shall reopen on Monday, February 23, with immediate effect.
The Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Matthew Eri Salami, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lokoja.
Earlier, the state government had ordered the temporary closure of schools across the state for two weeks from February 4, stating that the move was part of efforts to safeguard lives and property.
According to the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the temporary closure of schools across the state was a “Purely preventive decision, 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.”
He stated that the decision was driven by responsibility, not panic, emphasising that the government opted for proactive measures rather than waiting for preventable incidents to occur.
The directive was followed by a statement from the Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Pastor Reuben Jimoh, directing members to comply immediately.
“The midterm break for school has been fast forwarded and we shall be resuming back on 16th /02/2026. Therefore, there will be no school tomorrow until 16th /02/2026. No school should go against this adjustment.”
However, the state Ministry of Education, in a statement signed by Mr Matthew Eri Salami, Director of Basic and Secondary Education, directed schools to resume on Monday next week.
The statement read, “I am directed to inform you that schools are to resume on Monday 23rd of February, 2026 after the emergency mid-term break.
“Other information will be communicated later.”
