The Plateau State Government has ordered all public and private primary and secondary schools to close temporarily starting Monday, September 7, 2026, after a diphtheria outbreak was recorded in four local government areas.
In a statement released Saturday, September 5, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the shutdown covers schools that have already resumed. The measure targets Jos North, Jos South, Bassa, and Wase, where suspected cases have been identified.
“The directive under the leadership of His Excellency, Caleb Manaseh Mutfwang, is taking preventative measures against the diphtheria infection outbreak of suspected cases in some parts of the state,” Ramnap said.
She urged proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents, and guardians to comply fully and keep students at home for the duration of the closure to protect pupils and staff.
The announcement comes as health officials report a sharp rise in cases. According to the Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, the state recorded 143 suspected diphtheria cases and 23 deaths in the last two weeks.
The government said public health interventions are ongoing in the affected communities and thanked school administrators, parents, and other stakeholders for their cooperation.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads easily in crowded settings like schools, which informed the decision to pause academic activities statewide.
