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All public, private primary and secondary schools in Plateau State have been ordered to close from Monday, September 7, 2026, in a precautionary move following suspected diphtheria cases reported in parts of the state.
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The closure affects schools that have already resumed academic activities, with the government directing proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and guardians to ensure that pupils and students remain at home until further notice.
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Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas are among the areas where suspected cases have been reported, prompting the state government to take preventive action aimed at limiting possible transmission among children and school communities.
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The government said a fresh date for the resumption of academic activities would be announced later, as authorities continue to assess the situation and take measures to protect pupils, students and teaching and non-teaching staff.
September 05, (THEWILL) — The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state following suspected cases of diphtheria in some parts of the state.
The directive, issued by the administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, takes effect from Monday, September 7, 2026, and applies to all schools, including those that have already resumed academic activities for the new session.
The state government said the decision was a preventive measure designed to safeguard pupils, students, teachers and non-teaching staff from possible exposure to the infectious disease.
In a statement signed on Saturday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government said suspected diphtheria cases had been identified in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
“Accordingly, schools that have already resumed academic activities are also directed to close from Monday, September 7, 2026, and remain closed until further notice,” the statement said.
The government urged school proprietors and administrators to comply fully with the directive and ensure that academic activities do not continue during the period.
It also appealed to parents and guardians to keep their children and wards safely at home, stressing that the measure was intended to protect the wider school community while authorities respond to the health concern.
Why The Closure
The decision comes against the background of the continued public-health challenge posed by diphtheria in Nigeria.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat and can, in some cases, lead to severe complications, including heart problems.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) identifies diphtheria as a priority disease requiring prompt reporting of suspected cases. �
The disease is preventable through vaccination, while treatment generally involves antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin. Because transmission can occur within close-contact settings, schools can present a particular concern when suspected cases occur among children and young people.
Available NCDC data have also previously shown Plateau among Nigerian states affected by diphtheria, underscoring the importance of heightened surveillance and rapid response when suspected cases emerge.
The Plateau Government said the temporary shutdown was not a permanent suspension of the academic calendar but a precautionary intervention intended to minimise the risk of transmission while the situation is assessed.
The Commissioner appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the directive, particularly school authorities and parents, whose compliance would be critical to ensuring that pupils and students do not continue to gather in school environments during the period.
The government said it appreciated the understanding and cooperation of stakeholders as it continued to take what it described as appropriate measures in the best interest of residents. It added that further information on the resumption of academic activities would be communicated to the public in due course.
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