Isiyaku Ahmed
Plateau State Government has intensified efforts to contain a diphtheria outbreak that has claimed 25 lives and left 153 suspected cases recorded across the state in the last two weeks.
Stallion Times reports the as part of its emergency response, the government has ordered the immediate temporary closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state, effective Monday, 7 September 2026.
As part of Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration’s commitment to open governance and direct engagement with citizens, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, used separate appearances on PRTV’s Echoes of the Plateau Dream: Plateau at a Glance – Progress, Challenges and the Road Ahead and JayFM to brief residents on key developments in the state.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, 14 patients are currently receiving treatment, while suspected cases have been reported in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
The government has identified Rikkos community in Jos North as the epicentre of the outbreak.
Ramnap said the decision to shut schools statewide was taken as a precautionary measure to reduce transmission and protect children, stressing that the government could not afford to take chances with public health.
She directed all schools that had already resumed to close immediately and remain shut until further notice.
“This decision was not made lightly. But the life of one Plateau child is worth more than any academic calendar. We must act now to break the chain of transmission and protect our families,” she said.
The Commissioner said the government was implementing a broad range of preventive measures alongside the school closure.
She urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated by visiting the nearest government health facility, noting that diphtheria is vaccine-preventable and that unvaccinated children or those who have not completed the recommended three doses are at greater risk of severe illness.
Residents were also advised to observe strict personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitiser, while wearing face masks in public places and on public transportation.
The government has further reduced passenger capacity on Plateau Express Service and TinCity Metro buses as part of measures to minimise close contact and limit the spread of the disease.
Ramnap appealed to parents to keep children at home, avoid crowded places and seek prompt medical attention at government health facilities if symptoms occur, rather than resorting to self-medication.
She explained that diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing, close contact and sharing personal items such as utensils and towels.
Common symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, swelling of the throat, difficulty swallowing and the formation of a greyish membrane in the throat.
The Commissioner assured residents that the government remained concerned about the impact of the outbreak and was taking necessary steps to protect lives and prevent further spread.
She also called on the media, community leaders, religious organisations and residents to support public sensitisation efforts and ensure that only verified information about the outbreak is circulated.
“The government will communicate the school resumption date in due course,” she said.
Ramnap also reaffirmed the Mutfwang administration’s commitment to its broader development agenda, saying efforts were continuing in the areas of security, infrastructure, agriculture and youth empowerment despite the health challenge.
She described the outbreak as a challenge that requires collective action, urging residents to cooperate with government health directives.
“We are on a road of recovery and renewal.
“This health challenge is one we will overcome together, just as we are overcoming other challenges facing our dear state,” she said.
