The Chairman of the Presidential task force on Covid-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, has asked northern state governments, which had been evacuating the Quranic school pupils, popularly known as Almajiri, to their states of origin to suspend it.

Mustapha, who also doubles as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF], noted that the interstate movements of Almajiri might frustrate efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Northern Governors’ Forum in a statement issued after its meeting on April 21 unanimously decided to ban the Almajirai system of education. They decided that the children should be sent back to their parents or states of origin.

States which have been repatriating the Almajirai back to their states of origin include Kano and Nasarawa.

But some of the children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. For example, On May 2, the Kaduna State Government said 21 out of 61 Almajirai deported to the state from Kano tested positive for the virus.

Besides, some of the children are being hidden in vehicles carrying food and brought to the South, a development southern states have frowned upon.

Expressing concern about the development, the SGF said,

“This is not the time for movement of Almajirai because of interstate lockdown. If you say interstate movements are banned, I don’t think that movements of Almajirai are essential movements.”

Mustapha urged state governments to align their actions and enforcement with the guidelines provided by the PTF.

“The virus does not respect boundaries neither does it respect status. All state governments are, therefore, urged to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement machinery in collaboration with the security agencies,” he stated.