Virtual School Policy
The Federal government directed that all schools (Primary, secondary and tertiary institutions) be shut down from 26th March 2020, to curtail the spread of the virus. The government through the Federal Ministry of Educations and the Universal Basic Education Commission with technical support from UNICEF subsequently established a Task Team to work out a Learn at Home Programme (LHP).
The task team identified the opportunity to enhance access, and strengthen quality education through the deployment and utilization of e-learning solutions and tools to reach children in both urban and rural Nigeria. Below are links to some of e-learning platforms launched by the Federal Government of Nigeria
- Schoolgate E-learning Service for Primary School Pupils – schoolgate.ng
- Mobile classroom Application – mobileclassroom.com.ng
- Unity schools Virtual Learning platforms:
- Junior school – https://t.me/joinchat/PXkmchrCjpmpuvT8RLH_tg
- Senior School – https://t.me/joinchat/PXkmckev-4nIkoHoqes3cg
- EduFirstTV– https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH2ONb1eLgZ76FvtGuLJDnA
The Task Team also announced plans to launch radio and television educational broadcasts across the country to bridge the gap created by the closure of schools at all levels and also the gap between people who have internet access and power supply, and the indigent and those in remote communities without access to power, and only rely on battery-powered transistor radios to access information.
Some states in Nigeria have also adopted e-learning tools. The table below enumerates states and their adopted platforms
States | E-Learning platform |
Ondo | http://odsgelearning.com.ng/ |
Ogun | https://www.ogundigiclass.ng/ |
Edo | http://subeb.edostate.gov.ng/home-school/ |
Kaduna | https://education.kdsg.gov.ng/?portfolio=teaching-on-tv-and-radio |
Lagos | http://www.naija102.com/lagos/audio |
Reported violations of lockdown orders
- There are mixed levels of compliance to the lockdown directives in Lagos state. While residents of highbrow neighbourhoods such as Eti Osa Local government Area were largely compliant, indigent neighbourhoods such as Ifako-Ijaiye LGA were less compliant because the near impossibility of social distance practices in the structures of their homes, and their need to access livelihoods and social goods.
- Some residents of Abuja and Lagos state also flaunted the lockdown directives and took over public areas for group exercises. Law enforcement agencies have warned that that group jogging and exercises will no longer be tolerated as the principle of social distancing are not adhered to during group exercises.
- In Abuja, a taxi driver Emmanuel Imhoudo on Tuesday 14th April stripped himself naked after his car was impounded by the police while enforcing the lockdown. He was later sentenced to six months imprisonment by a magistrate court in Abuja. Read more
- Actress Funke Akindele – popular known as Jenifa and her Musician Husband Abdul Rasheed Bello were both convicted and sentenced to 14 days community service for violating the Lagos State’s lockdown order to curtail the spread of coronavirus. The couple was found guilty for throwing a birthday which gathered more that 20persons in violation of the lockdown order in the state. Mrs Aje Afunwa of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba, who pronounced the sentence, also imposed a fine of N100, 000 each on them. Read more
- Some pastors in Ekiti state also defied the lockdown in the state and continued to hold church services. The state Ministry of Justice decried the fact that more than 10 pastors in the state had been arrested and prosecuted for violating the prohibition of gathering provision in the Covid-19 regulations. The state government further called on Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to work with government at all levels to ensure that their members adhere to stipulated regulations to curtail the spread of Covid-19. Read more
- Three Imams (Islamic clerics) in Maiduguri, Borno State, face suspension and disciplinary actions for defying the government’s social distancing order by hosting Friday congregational prayers. The erring Imams include Goni Isa of Flatari North, Goni Bashir CMC Lawan Bukar and Goni Gabchiya, Imam of University of Maiduguri. Read more
- The Rivers State Government arrested 22 traders who entered the state from neighbouring Abia and Anambra states for disobeying the state’s directive on border closure. The state Health Commissioner stated that the 22 traders would be screened and quarantined to ascertain their status after which they would be tried in line with the extant laws in place to protect Rivers’ state residents. Read more