All tertiary institutions in Lagos State are to re-open for academic activities from September fourteenth, while primary and secondary schools across will resume September twenty-first.

The re-opening order came six months after all tertiary institutions and basic schools were shut on the order of the Government, following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the decision to re-open the schools was carefully thought through, given the decline in the number of positive cases and the progress recorded in the State’s response.

He asked the management of the schools to ensure adherence to the safety guidelines as they re-open their campuses for activities.

Besides, the Governor also permitted the re-opening of recreational centres and social clubs that have registered trustees, but on the condition that they obtain a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).

He said: “I am pleased to announce that tertiary institutions in Lagos State will re-open from September 14, 2020. We are also working towards the reopening of Primary and Secondary Schools anytime from September 21, 2020. However, the decision to re-open the basic and secondary schools is not cast in stone and is subject to a review of our ongoing modelling of the State’s response to the pandemic.

“Also, social clubs and recreational centers that have registered trustees have also been permitted to open, on the condition that they have applied for and obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission. Restaurants are now permitted to open for in-dining services, but they must ensure the maintenance of a 50 per cent maximum occupancy at any point in time. They must also have obtained a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate.”

Sanwo-Olu said his Government remained sympathetic to the plight of business owners, especially those operating in hospitality and tourism sectors. He said the State Government was still reviewing the permissible opening dates for businesses tourism and hospitality industry, pointing out that there would be concrete decisions on easing the lockdown on tourism businesses before the end of September.

The Governor directed that all event centers, bars, lounges, night clubs, spas, beaches, cinemas, gyms and game arcades to remain shut till further notice.

As Federal Government prepares to re-open international airspace for traffic on September 5, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government had started to work with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to put adequate measures in place in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of Lagos residents in the light of resumption of international air-travel.

The Governor also ordered civil servants in the State’s unified public service to comply with existing guidelines and roster schedules issued by the Head of Service and the heads of MDAs.

He said: “As a Government, we will continue to keep our citizens informed and updated on the decisions that we are taking in response to the pandemic. We will also continue to ask for your understanding and cooperation. These are challenging times for all of us, and it requires extra levels of patience, sacrifice and understanding.”

Sanwo-Olu said the observed decline in the number of positive cases did not mean the pandemic was over. He urged residents to continue to adhere to the safety guidelines outlined by the health authorities.

“The fact that we have been seeing a gradual easing of the lockdown does not mean that we are now returning to our old way of doing things. The easing you are seeing is the outcome of a careful and deliberate attempt to ensure that livelihoods are not crippled by the overwhelmingly disruptive impact of the virus. It is certainly not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance,” the Governor said.

The Governor disclosed that the State’s Deputy Incident Commander and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had been discharging his duty and responding to treatment, adding that Commissioner remained asymptomatic.

Sanwo-Olu, at the briefing, launched a COVID-19 Care Pack, which contains medications, hand sanitizer, face masks and handy medical equipment that could be used to check temperature.

The Care Pack is to be given to those who have been confirmed positive of the COVID-19 free of charge and who prefer home-based care.

Some education stakeholders in Lagos have lauded the state government on planned reopening of schools in an effort to gradually ease the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stakeholders made the commendation in Lagos on Sunday.

The state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Saturday announced that tertiary institutions in the state would reopen from Sept. 14, while primary and secondary schools might resume from Sept. 21.

President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State Chapter, Olawale Amusa, said the decision was cheering.

He said private school owners were set for resumption.

“Since final year students of secondary schools resumed to prepare for WASSCE, inspectors from the state ministry of education have been going round schools, and none of our members was found wanting.

“Reopening schools is long-awaited. Schools were closed for the past five months, and many of our members were unable to pay salary.

“Those that were able paid their staff between 25 per cent and 50 per cent on monthly basis,” he said.

Amusa said the resumption would make private school owners and teachers to start work.

“Private schools associations in Lagos State and the ministry of education have been working together to ensure safety of children because they are the future of tomorrow.

“For our association, we inaugurated NAPPS Quality Assurance Committee to go round and inspect our members’ schools; the committee submitted its report two weeks ago.

“Those found below average were cautioned and necessary checklist given to them,” he said.

Amusa said that requirements for schools ahead of the resumption, such as infrared thermometer, sanitiser and
wash-hand basins, were given to the members at a low cost.

Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT), Lagos State Wing, Adedoyin Adesina, said NUT was delighted at the announcement.

According to him, teachers and students are tired of staying at home.

Adesina, however, said some students engaged in meaningful activities such as learning entrepreneurial skills.

“With the latest development, hopefully tertiary institutions can finish first semester in December 2020 so that they can start a new semester next year.

“I am disturbed concerning primary and secondary schools because most of them did not finish or write second term examination.

“I do not know how they will conclude second and third terms this year without it affecting the scheme of work,” he said.

Adesina said that governments would need to restructure and refurbish public schools in order to comply with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Both the federal and state governments need to start showing more concern on public schools because a lot of them lack tables, chairs, classrooms and so on,” he said.

National President, Association of Nursery and Primary Education Instructors in Nigeria (ANPEIN), Simeon Fowowe, said reopening of schools in Lagos was a welcome development.

Fowowe said education stakeholders such as parents , teachers caregivers, associations and heads of institutions were ready for the resumption.

“By the records available, the number of COVID-19 infections has decreased, which means all hands must be on deck to prevent its further spread.

“We must stick to the prescribed precautionary measures in all schools.

“For our association, we have sufficiently equipped our members for the task ahead,” he said.

Fowowe said that the association trained its members on how to cope with emergencies and on precautionary measures before, during and after teaching.

“We appreciate Lagos State Government and its ministry of education for blazing the trail in this regard.

“The ministry under Mrs Folashade Adefisayo as the Commissioner deserves a great deal of commendation for its initiative and promptness to tackle challenges facing schools in the Badagry Division,” he said.