Governors of states in the northwest part of Nigeria have announced the closure of all schools in the region for 30 days.

The announcement comes after Katsina State announced it recorded a first confirmed COVID-19/Coronavirus case.

The governors after a closed-door meeting held in Kaduna on Wednesday said the closure of all schools became necessary in order to prevent the spread of the CoronaVirus/ COVID 19 pandemic in the zone.

Chairman of the North-West governors and helmsman of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari read the communique shortly after their closed door meeting.

The governors converged on Kaduna along heads of the security in various states to review security strategies and fight against banditry, before the case of the virus was reported in Katsina Wednesday.

Masari said the closure of schools would take effect from Monday 23rd of March 2020.

According to him, the governors will meet with examination boards to discuss the schools’ closure.

They equally admonished the general public to avoid unnecessary gatherings, urging them as well to maintain good respiratory hygiene.

Present at the meeting were the governors of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger states, while Kano Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, represented his Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Also in attendance is Governor Mohammed Sani Bello of Niger State, whose state shares same security challenges as the bordering North-West States.

Earlier at the opening of the meeting, Masari said, while the region had succeeded in fighting cattle rustling, new challenges of kidnapping and banditry emerged.

He said the essence of the meeting was to plan on ways to arrest the situation, expressing concern over the rate of banditry in the states and the country at large.

He said the meeting was the continuation of what the zonal governors started in 2016 when the states were faced with cattle rustling.

“We were able to achieve certain level of success with regards to cattle rustling, but over time, the criminality has developed into kidnapping, banditary and unwanted and unwarranted criminal activities within our states.

“So, we thought it us wise we should come to Kaduna the old headquarters of Northern Nigeria to review what has been done. We are here to address North West and Niger state and also the review what had happen and the next step to be taken as governors and security chiefs who are saddle with the responsibility of protecting life’s and properties of the people,” the governor said.