SUMMARY


A news story making rounds on WhatsApp suggested that polytechnics and Universities are resuming on May 4th, 2020

CONCLUSION


The claim is false and lacks substance. The Ministry of Education has not released any statement specifying May 4th, 2020 as the resumption date for polytechnics and Universities in Nigeria. It is mere speculation written as a news story.

FULL TEXT


Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria recorded its first case of the novel Coronavirus on February 27, 2020. In a couple of weeks, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to about 70 cases forcing the government to order the closure of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Subsequently, a total lockdown of Lagos, FCT, Ogun was announced.

The news story making rounds state that the federal government of Nigeria has announced May 4, 2020 (Monday) for all University and Polytechnic in Nigeria to resume, tentatively.

It also made reference to the order made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Sonny Echono on behalf of the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, directing all 104 Unity Schools in the country to close on or before the 26th of March, 2020 for a month then, as a proactive measure to prevent the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus.

It should be noted that the major claim on the news story included a certain word “tentatively”.

VERIFICATION


Nothing of such was found in major news outlets, suggesting foul play. It was gathered that the same message is being circulated on different social media platforms without a definite source.

In a call that was put across to the Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Yakasai, Head, Public Affairs, National Universities Commission, said that the regulatory body instructed universities to shut down, adding that he is not aware of the news.

The word used in the news story, “tentatively” which means uncertainty, proves that the content of the news story was speculated and it is fake news.