By Felix Onuah
ABUJA, July 9 (Reuters) - Nigeria has dropped a plan to
allow some pupils to return to school because of a continued
increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, its education
minister said.
Last week the presidential taskforce on the new coronavirus
had said pupils due to graduate this year would be able to go
back to school to prepare for exams, though other children would
remain barred from attending. "We will not open soon for examinations, or for any reason,
unless it is safe for our children," Education Minister Adamu
Adamu told reporters in the capital, Abuja, late on Wednesday
after a cabinet meeting.
"Our schools will only open when we believe it's safe for
our children and that is when the situation is right, not when
the incidence of the infection is going up in the nation."
Adamu did not specify the reason for the policy shift.
Nigeria has so far reported 30,249 new coronavirus cases
including 460 deaths.
Despite the rising number of cases, Nigerian authorities
have relaxed some lockdown restrictions in recent weeks in an
effort to protect the economy.
Domestic flights resumed on Wednesday, a week after a ban on
interstate travel was lifted.