Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned that schools will be shut down if they fail to comply with the state’s ban on the Monday sit-at-home order.
At a news conference on Wednesday, the governor warned that the government would no longer tolerate disruptions to academic activities, stressing that schools are expected to operate from Monday to Friday in line with state policy.
Soludo expressed frustration that traders in some parts of the state stayed away from their businesses on Monday despite repeated government warnings to disregard the sit-at-home order. He said continued compliance with the directive was harming the state’s economy and everyday livelihoods.
He criticized the impact of the sit-at-home on education, insisting that Anambra could not afford a reduced school week. “We’re not going to train our children in the 21st century by going to school four days a week. That is absolute nonsense,” Soludo said.
The governor warned that private schools that fail to open on Mondays would face sanctions, including closure. “If you are running a private school and you are not open, we will come and lock it up, because we’ve given you the permission to operate,” he said.
According to him, the measures are aimed at protecting the state’s economy, safeguarding the future of its children and reassuring investors. In line with that, he stressed that Anambra must function as a full working state rather than a four-day economy.