The Kogi State Government has stated that the temporary closure of schools across the state was a preventive move based on credible intelligence and the pressing need to put protective measures in place surrounding schools to protect pupils, students, and teachers.
Speaking to reporters in Lokoja on Tuesday, State Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Femi Fanwo said that the decision was not motivated by panic but rather by responsibility, emphasizing that the government chose to act proactively rather than waiting for preventable situations.
He said, “Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately deploy necessary modalities to ensure that schools resume academic activities as soon as it is safe, so as not to disrupt the state’s academic calendar.”
Fanwo praised the security services for providing timely and actionable intelligence, pointing out that such collaboration demonstrates the efficacy of the state’s security architecture.
He reminded the people of Kogi State that the government is well aware of the issue and that security agencies are already working around the clock to identify, locate, and decisively deal with criminal hideouts.
“The safety of our children, teachers, and educational institutions remains non-negotiable. This administration will always prioritize lives while ensuring continuity in governance and education,” Fanwo said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Pastor Reuben Jimoh, informed his members that the state government has chosen to expedite the midterm break into an emergency lockdown.
“The midterm break for school has been fast-forwarded, and we shall be resuming back on 16/02/2026. Therefore, there will be no school tomorrow until 16/02/2026.
“No school should go against this adjustment,” Jimoh said.
