The Enugu State Government has commenced decontamination and fumigation of secondary schools in the state, ahead of resumption of academic activities.
The exercise is being carried out by the State Fire Service, led by its Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa.
Recall that the State Government, on March 24, 2020, suspended all educational institutions in the state, as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19
It further directed all public officers/civil servants to work from home till further notice, except those on essential services.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the flag off at Queen’s School Enugu, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, who monitored the exercise, said that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had directed that all schools, classrooms, dormitories and school premises be decontaminated and fumigated in preparation for resumption.
Eze disclosed that the move was to ensure that when the students and teachers are back to schools, they will be safe to learn in conducive environment.
The commissioner added that the exercise will take place in all the schools and will be completed on or before the evening of Monday, August 3, 2020.
He pointed out that Ugwuanyi’s administration has utilized the four months of break in academic activities “in renovation and expansion of our school facilities to ensure that we have enough space for our children to maintain social distancing when they return to schools.
“In fact, a few days ago, His Excellency himself moved round schools to inspect our state of readiness and this decontamination and fumigation exercise, which is very important, is going to be the last stage of our preparation”, Prof. Eze said.
On his part, Engr. Ohaa said that the decontamination and fumigation exercise will be carried out simultaneously in about 297 secondary schools, adding that “We are sure that on or before evening of Monday, we will complete it”.
Ohaa revealed that the state fire service offices at different local government areas have been mobilized to carry out the exercise, reassuring that the schools will be ready “for students and their teachers to be safe when they return”.
He maintained that the Enugu State government has been consistent with the decontamination of its public places since the outbreak of COVID-19, stressing that “there is no other state that is as consistent as Enugu State”.
