Rivers government denies shutting down primary, secondary schools over COVID-19

The Rivers State Government has denied report that it has ordered the closure of primary and secondary schools in the state.
The Commissioner of Education, Prof. Kanye Ebeku, in a statement issued on Friday described as a fake news, reports that Governor Nyesom Wike ordered the closure of schools over concerns that there was an upsurge in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was an earlier statement purportedly signed by an official of the ministry announcing the shutdown of schools.

But, Ebeku maintained that the statement was the handiwork of mischief-makers whose intention was to pit the people against the state government.

“The attention of Rivers Education Ministry has been drawn to a fake news trending on social media that Gov. Nyesom Wike ordered closure of schools for two weeks.

“The ministry, hereby, categorically states that the news is false and should be treated as false news.

“The news is the handiwork of fraudsters and mischief-makers who derive pleasure in misleading members of the public and causing confusion,“ he added.