The Federal Government has dismissed reports claiming that all schools across the country have been ordered to shut down, describing the information as false, misleading, and not from any authorised source.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said the viral report circulating on social media had no connection to the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, any State Ministry of Education, or any recognised security agency.
Boriowo cautioned the public against sharing unverified messages, emphasising the growing risk of misinformation in the digital age.
“Any announcement, advisory, or notice coming from unofficial or unverified sources should be ignored and not shared. Members of the public are urged to always verify the authenticity of information before circulating it,” the statement read.
She noted that only directives emanating from the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, State Governments, and recognised security agencies should be regarded as credible.
The clarification comes a day after the Federal Government ordered the temporary closure of 41 federal secondary schools in high-risk areas, following recent abductions in Niger and Kebbi states.
In recent weeks, several states, including Kwara, Plateau, Katsina, and Niger, have shut down schools due to heightened insecurity. The Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, also directed all public and private schools in the state to immediately deboard their students.
The Ministry of Education stressed that these state-level decisions should not be misconstrued as a nationwide directive and reiterated its commitment to providing accurate information through official channels only.
