The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions across Nigeria to immediately dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related criminal offences after due investigation, as part of measures to enhance security on campuses nationwide.
Alausa gave the directive during a meeting with the Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja, where discussions focused on campus security, infrastructure development and student welfare.
The minister also instructed heads of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to strengthen internal intelligence mechanisms and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to prevent criminal activities within and around tertiary institutions.
“Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must be dismissed. Our campuses must never become safe havens for criminal elements,” Alausa stated.
While maintaining that Nigeria’s tertiary institutions remain largely safe, the minister noted that recent isolated incidents involving students outside campuses underscored the need for improved intelligence gathering and proactive security measures.
“We have a collective responsibility to protect every Nigerian child, from primary school to tertiary education. While our campuses remain safe, we must continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and work closely with our security agencies,” he added.
Alausa revealed that he had recently held discussions with the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, aimed at developing a coordinated strategy to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative across the country.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s policy against negotiating with or paying ransom to kidnappers, stressing that such actions only encourage criminal activities.
“Yielding to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and undermines national efforts to combat insecurity,” the minister said.
On infrastructure, Alausa disclosed that the Federal Government would support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund 2027 intervention programme. According to him, the projects will include perimeter fencing and other security facilities to improve campus safety.
The minister further reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Power to improve electricity supply in higher institutions through additional solar power generation and battery storage systems.
During the meeting, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Adebimpe Adebajo, expressed concerns over inadequate student accommodation, unstable electricity supply and insecurity. She alleged that some students were suspected of involvement in kidnapping activities carried out outside the university campus and maintained that the institution opposed the payment of ransom, warning that it would encourage criminality.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mohammed Isa Kida, appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the institution’s second campus. He also requested additional office accommodation and increased staffing to strengthen teaching, research and administrative activities.
Responding to the requests, Alausa advised the university to submit formal applications under the relevant Federal Government intervention programmes, assuring the management that projects meeting the required criteria would receive due consideration.
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