The Plateau State Government has directed the immediate temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state to safeguard students and staff against a suspected diphtheria outbreak. ​The precautionary measure was officially announced in a press statement released on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
The shutdown takes effect on Monday, September 7, 2026, applying to all basic education institutions, including those that have already commenced academic activities for the session. ​According to Rt. Hon.
Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, suspected cases of the vaccine-preventable bacterial infection were recently recorded across four Local Government Areas: Jos North, Jos South, Bassa, and Wase.
​State health authorities, led by Commissioner for Health Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, revealed that the state has recorded over 143 suspected cases and 23 deaths, with active cases currently being managed under isolation at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos. ​
“The temporary closure is aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of pupils, students, teaching, and non-teaching staff while rapid containment efforts, contact tracing, and vaccination mop-ups continue,” stated Ramnap. ​The government instructed all school proprietors, administrators, and teachers to comply fully with the order.
Parents and guardians have been urged to keep their children safely at home and monitor them closely for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, and difficulty breathing. ​
Further directives regarding official resumption dates will be communicated by the state government following ongoing assessments by health officials.
