The Oyo State Government on Thursday in Ibadan ordered the reopening of 23 schools across the Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

This was after the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal, met with several actors in the boundary crisis which had culminated in a 10-year closure of schools in the areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders meeting was held to fashion out ways of resolving the age-long land dispute.

Lawal, who is also Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, charged the chairmen of the four LGAs to ensure security and peace in their domain.

“If there are any breaches of security, the chairmen will be held responsible,” he warned.

The Deputy Governor equally stated that the Ministry of Education would oversee the schools after reopening.

“The Ministry will do whatever is required to put the children back to school,” he added.

Lawal also enjoined the members of Oyo State House of Assembly representing the affected areas to work with community leaders to ensure that children go back to school.

He expressed appreciation to the President, Oyo Global Forum, a non-partisan group of professionals from the four LGAs which constitute the Oyo Federal Constituency.

The Deputy Governor noted that their interest in the progress of the affected schools was commendable.

He assured the stakeholders that the Office of the state’s Surveyor-General would wade into the boundary dispute among the communities.

But the Deputy Governor also appealed to the community leaders to adhere to the State Government’s verdict on the schools.

“I appeal to you our elders and chairmen of the affected local governments to consider the future of these children.

“The primary reason this meeting was held was for the schools that were closed for 10 years to reopen immediately. That is the message from the governor (Seyi Makinde) himself.

“We have engaged all the stakeholders, community leaders, lawmakers, the chairmen of the various local governments, and we have agreed that schools must reopen in the interest of those children,” he said.

The affected schools include: Community Basic School Obananko, Oyo; Community Basic School Laagbe, Oyo; Pinnock Memorial Baptist School Aba Epo Oluwatedo, Oyo; and Baptist Basic School Oluwatedo, Oyo.

Also among the schools are: St. Luke Anglican Bada Idiyalode, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Ago Oyo; and Community Basic School Igbo Olose, Oyo in Oyo West LGA.

Others are: Community Basic School Adebimpe, Oyo; Community Basic School Obasere, Oyo; St. Thomas Anglican School Alabi Olorunda, Oyo; St. Michael RCM Apaara Village, Oyo; and Methodist Primary School Ajagba, Oyo.

There are also: Baptist Central School Oniyanrin, Oyo; Baptist Primary School Aguo, Oyo; ADS Primary School Baba Elesin, Oyo in Oyo East LGA; L.A. School Lannite, Oyo; and L.A. Primary School Gudugbu Orile, Oyo.

The rest are: L.A. Primary School Gudugbu, Oyo; ADS Primary School Aba Olori, Oyo; ADS Primary Abujakan, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Alagbon, Oyo and L.A. Basic School Imeleke in Oyo, also in Oyo East LG.

NAN reports that the meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, and the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran.

There were also in attendance Chairmen of the concerned four LGAs and traditional leaders, among other stakeholders. (NAN)

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