The Nigerian Bar Association Ibadan branch has cautioned the Oyo State government on its decision to reopen schools. They gave this caution in a press statement signed by the brach  NBA chairman, Oluwole Akintayo and his Secretary, Akeem Okelola, made available to CEOAFRICA which is also the auspicious occasion of the International Day  of  the  African  Child.

While reminding the state government of the Section 3 of  the  Child's Rights  Law of  Oyo State which provides that: In  every  action  concerning  a  child,  whether  undertaken  by  an  individual,  public or  private  body,  institutions  or  service,  court  of  law,  or  administrative  or legislative  authority,  *the  best  interest  of  the  child  shall  be  the  primary consideration."* They express fear that the best interest of the Oyo State children might be trampled on by the state government decision of school reopening.]

The state government issued a directive on the 15th of June that students in Primary 6, Junior Secondary 3 and Senior Secondary 3 should resume school on the 29th of June in preparation for their forthcoming state and national examinations.

 The NBA stated that "the new directive for resumption of pupils in final classes in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools is predicated on the assumption that in the next two weeks COVID-19 would have been eliminated or reduced to the barest level." This, they say, "may be a very ambitious expectation" from the state government."

They reminded the state government of the number of Covid-19 cases in the state. As at the time of the press statement, Oyo state "has recorded 575 confirmed cases of COVID--19, 242 recoveries and 7 deaths." Although they commended the effort of the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on the various effort he has put in place to curb the spread of the virus.  However, they urge the governor to rescind the decision to reopen the schools.

The NBA gave instances of nations that have actually tried this and have faced the consequences. They mentioned that there are spikes in infection rates in some countries; like in "Western Cape Province,  South  Africa,  98  teachers,  1800  students tested  positive  for  COVID-19  almost  two  weeks  after  school  resumption.  Also, three weeks after Israel reopened the doors to all its schools, 347 pupils and teachers tested positive as a direct result of premature resumption of schools."

These countries and their various provinces/states have better health infrastructure than we do not have in Nigeria. Better, they follow every procedure to prevent the spread of the dreadful disease; unlike Nigeria where " our adult  citizens  still carry  on their activities as if Covid-19 does not exist", where majority of  our  citizens  do  not  adhere  to government  protocols "particularly  the  protocols  regarding  social  distancing  and  use  of  face  mask."

The NBA noted that “children are naturally playful"; the decision of school reopening may be a step toward the spike of the disease because it might be too demanding of these kids to observe necessary safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Furthermore, the NBA appeal to the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr.  Seyi Makinde  FNSE,  to  reconsider  the  decision  that  schools--  some  pupils  and  students  resume  on  the 29th  day  of  June,  2020,  until  there  is  sufficient  scientific  evidence  that  positively  indicates  that the  safety  and  well-being  of  our  pupils  and  students,  their  teachers  and  other  workers,  their parents  and  guardians  and  other  family  members,  and  the  good  people  of  Oyo  State,  are guaranteed."