The federal government on Friday ordered the immediate shutdown of 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide following rising security threats in parts of the country.
The directive, issued through a circular from the Federal Ministry of Education, said the closure was approved by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as a precautionary measure to safeguard students and staff.
The memo, signed by Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, cited “recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches” as the basis for the emergency action.
Schools administrators have been instructed to evacuate students without delay and ensure full compliance until further notice.
“This decision is in the best interest of the students, staff and school property. Principals must adhere strictly to this directive and provide updates on evacuation procedures,” the circular stated.
The federal government did not elaborate on the nature or location of the specific security threats. However, several northern states, including Katsina and Plateau, recently ordered similar school closures following a spike in banditry, school-targeted attacks and abductions.
Security analysts say the move reflects deepening concern over the ability of terrorists and armed gangs to infiltrate soft targets, especially schools.
A senior education official, who asked not to be named because she was not authorised to speak, said that the federal government preferred “a unified national response” rather than “waiting for attacks to occur before taking action”.
Parents expressed mixed reactions on Friday night, with many praising the directive as “timely”, while others lamented the disruption to academic activities.
A parent in Abuja, Mrs. Shola Adegoke, said: “We support anything that keeps our children safe, but the government must tackle the root of the insecurity instead of shutting schools every time danger increases.”
As of press time, the ministry said monitoring teams had been dispatched to confirm compliance in the affected schools.
The federal government is expected to release further guidelines on academic adjustments and possible remote learning options in the coming days.
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