The Oyo State government has ordered the reopening of 23 schools in Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West local government areas of the state.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade,the deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal on Thursday, waded into the boundary crisis that culminated into a 10-year closure of the schools in the local government areas.
It would be recalled that a meeting was held on January 10, 2024 at the Government Secretariat, Ibadan on Monday, the commissioner disclosed that the government was not averse to the reopening of the school but was concerned over the safety of schoolchildren and teachers.
According to a statement signed OGF PRO, Mojeed Agboola, and made available to Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the commissioner called on the OGF, a non-partisan group of professionals from the four LGAs that constitute the Oyo Federal Constituency, to seek the commitment of all warring parties towards the safety of pupils and teachers of the sajd schools.
The statement added that the resolution was made at a stakeholder’s meeting held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The statement reads in part, “The Oyo State government has ordered the reopening of 23 schools in Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West local government areas of the state.
“The Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal on Thursday, waded into the boundary crisis that culminated into a 10-year closure of the schools in the local government areas.
“In a stakeholder’s meeting held at the Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, to fashion out ways of resolving the age-long land dispute, Barr. Bayo Lawal, who doubles as the chairman of the State Boundary Committee, charged the chairmen of Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West LGA to ensure security and peace in their domains.”
The deputy governor warned that if there are any breaches of security, the Chairmen will be held responsible.
He equally stated that the Ministry of Education will oversee the schools, after reopening.
His words, “I appeal to you our elders and chairmen of the affected local governments to consider the future of these children. The primary reason this meeting is held is for the schools that were closed for 10 years to reopen immediately. That is the message from the governor himself”.
“We have engaged all the stakeholders, community leaders, Honourable members, the chairmen of the various local governments, and we have agreed that schools must reopen in the interest of those children”, he said.
The affected schools include Community Basic School Obananko, Oyo; Community Basic School Laagbe, Oyo; Pinnock Memorial Bapt School Aba Epo Oluwatedo, Oyo; Bapt Basic School Oluwatedo, Oyo; St. Luke Anglican Bada Idiyalode, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Ago Oyo; Community Basic School Igbo Olose, Oyo in Oyo West LG.
Others are Community Basic School Adebimpe, Oyo; Community Basic School Obasere, Oyo; St. Thomas Anglican School Alabi Olorunda, Oyo; St. Michael RCM Apaara Village, Oyo; Methodist Primary School Ajagba, Oyo; Bapt Central School Oniyanrin, Oyo; Bapt Primary School Aguo, Oyo; ADS Primary School Baba Elesin, Oyo in Oyo East LG.
Also affected are L.A. School Lannite, Oyo; L.A. Primary School Gudugbu Orile, Oyo; L.A. Primary School Gudugbu, Oyo; ADS Primary School Aba Olori, Oyo; ADS Primary Abujakan, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Alagbon, Oyo and L.A. Basic School Imeleke, Oyo also in Oyo East LG.
