Plateau State ordered the closure of all schools starting Monday, September 7, 2026, due to suspected diphtheria cases.
The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state to protect children from a dangerous sickness called diphtheria.
The official directive was issued on Saturday, September 5, 2026, by the state government under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
Under the new safety order, all school gates will close starting Monday, September 7, 2026, and will remain closed until health officials confirm that the environment is completely safe.
The emergency order affects both schools that have already reopened for the new term and those planning to open next week.
School owners, headmasters, teachers, and parents have been instructed to follow the order strictly and keep all children safely inside their homes.
The main reason the state government took this emergency decision was the sudden discovery of suspected diphtheria cases in four major local government areas: Jos North, Wase, Jos South, and Bassa.
Diphtheria is a serious illness caused by bacteria that spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches another person.
It causes a severe sore throat, fever, a severe cough, and swelling in the neck, making it very difficult for young children to breathe.
To stop the sickness from jumping from one student to another in crowded classrooms and playgrounds, health experts advised the government to halt school activities immediately while medical teams step in to treat patients and spray affected areas.
The state ministry of health assured the public that government medical teams are working hard to trace all sick people, provide free treatment, and stop the disease from spreading to other communities.
Explaining the emergency decision in the official government statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communication urged all school leaders and families to cooperate fully.
Announcing the health protection measure to the public, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap stated that “the directive, issued under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, follows the detection of suspected cases in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas”.
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Outlining the core purpose behind closing classroom doors across all communities, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap added that “the measure was aimed at protecting the safety and wellbeing of students and teaching and non-teaching staff during the period”.
Expressing gratitude to community members for their patience, the commissioner emphasized that “the Government appreciates the understanding and full cooperation of all stakeholders as it continues to take appropriate measures in the best interest of the people of Plateau State”. The state government will announce new resumption dates as soon as health workers clear the environment.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
