The federal government has warned that except strict compliance to laid safety protocols was adhered to; schools across the country will remain shut amid the COVID 19 pandemic.

The government said the risk perception by the public is still very low and due to the country’s population structure which consists mostly of youth who may have the disease and not have symptoms, it was a tough call to order schools to reopen for academic activities.

While speaking during a webinar hosted by Plan International, the Head of Risk Communication of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC Yahya Disu revealed lamented that poor public perception and compliance to health protocol on COVID-19 prevention was responsible for government’s refusal to reopen schools.

“Reopening schools will further spread the disease. If there is a good level of compliance, then we could consider school reopening.

“School children are likely not going to comply and it could spread the disease among them as majority of our pupils go to school in vehicles and the transport sector is known to have a poor record of compliance.”