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Schools across Nigeria (crèche to secondary) may likely re-open on the originally scheduled date of September 13 rather than on October 13 as previously announced by the Federal Government at the height of the Ebola crisis in the country.

Already, Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has been directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to convene an emergency meeting of all states commissioners of education in order to agree on when schools can now resume nationwide, Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting in Abuja.

His words: “Mr. President had directed us to be reviewing the situation with respect to when schools can reopen as we move along because it could be dynamic.

“So, the experts were commissioned to look into it and advise, and they provided that advice to the Minister of Health, who then passed it on to FEC.

“But in terms of the administrative procedure, the Minister of Education, will still have to now convene the emergency meeting with all state commissioners of education, using this expert opinion to inform the nation as to the actual date of resumption of schools.

“So, the Minister of Education, whose responsibility it is to decide, has promised to call a meeting of the commissioners for education for them to review it based on the new information.”

Prof. Chukwu disclosed that the country had only two patients of the Ebola virus, who were still receiving treatment, while eight patients had been successfully treated and discharged.

The minister urged citizens to stop spreading unsubstantiated rumour, especially on social media, about the disease.

News Express reports that the directive on schools resumption does not affect tertiary institutions, which have continued with their normal activities.

•Photo shows Education Minister Shekarau.

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