The commencement of the school term in Edo State has been postponed due to the surge in petrol prices and the difficulties faced by parents and guardians.
While most parts of Nigeria plan to reopen schools on Monday, September 9, a statement from the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, has announced the indefinite postponement of the resumption of both public and private schools.
The statement emphasised that the government’s decision to keep schools closed was in response to the unrest resulting from the recent hike in fuel prices and the challenges experienced by parents and guardians.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers were urged to closely supervise their children’s and wards’ activities, given the current circumstances and the heightened agitation caused by the increase in fuel prices.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) raised the pump price of petrol to ₦855 at its retail outlets, leading to long queues at filling stations. This increase by the state oil company prompted independent petroleum marketers to also raise prices to over ₦900 per litre, while black market vendors are selling above ₦1000 per litre.