The Edo State Government has delayed the resumption of schools due to escalating petrol prices and the resulting difficulties faced by parents and guardians.

While schools across most of Nigeria were scheduled to reopen on Monday, September 9, a statement from the Ministry of Education, signed by Permanent Secretary Ojo Akin-Longe, announced that the resumption of both public and private schools has been postponed “until further notice.”

The statement explained, “The government has directed that schools remain closed due to the current tension stemming from the recent rise in fuel prices and the impact on families. Parents, guardians, and caregivers are advised to closely monitor their children and wards during this period of heightened tension.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently raised the price of petrol to ₦855 per litre at its stations, leading to similar price increases by independent marketers to over ₦900 per litre and black market prices exceeding ₦1000 per litre.