The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions across the country to immediately dismiss any student found guilty, after due investigation, of involvement in kidnapping or other violent crimes.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting with the Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, where concerns were raised over the alleged involvement of some students in kidnapping activities outside the campus.
The meeting, led by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Lola Akande, also reviewed issues relating to campus security, infrastructure, student welfare and ongoing reforms in the nation’s higher education sector.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa also directed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to curb criminal activities within and around campuses.
“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture. 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,” the minister said.
He stressed that government has a responsibility to safeguard lives and preserve educational institutions as centres of learning and excellence.
While noting that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely secure, Alausa said recent incidents involving students outside campuses highlighted the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer cooperation with security agencies
“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 to ensure that students are protected both within and outside our institutions,” he said.
The minister disclosed that he recently met with the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated strategy aimed at strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative and improving security for learners nationwide.
Alausa also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that government institutions must not negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom.
“Yielding to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and undermines national efforts to combat insecurity,” he said, urging governing councils to establish effective intelligence mechanisms and sustain collaboration with security agencies
Beyond security, the minister announced that the Federal Government would support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s 2027 intervention programme, including perimeter fencing and other critical infrastructure.
He also reaffirmed plans to expand the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power, explaining that institutions requiring additional electricity capacity could benefit from expanded solar power generation and battery storage.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Lola Akande, commended the Federal Government for its support but identified inadequate hostel accommodation, electricity challenges at the institution’s second campus and insecurity as key concerns.
She disclosed that some students were suspected of participating in kidnapping operations outside the university and maintained that the institution opposed the payment of ransom because it encourages criminality.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus, as well as additional office accommodation and staffing.
Responding, Alausa advised the institution to submit formal requests under the relevant intervention programmes, assuring the management that projects meeting established requirements and national priorities would receive due consideration.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in safer schools, stronger institutions and improved infrastructure to build a globally competitive higher education system.
