Education Minister directs institutions to tighten security and work closely with DSSGovernment warns campuses must never become shelters for criminal activities
By Ify
Okoli
The Federal Government
has ordered universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria
to immediately dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related crimes
after a thorough investigation.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with
the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia)
in Abuja. He said tertiary institutions must take a firm stand against
criminality and ensure their campuses remain safe environments for learning.
"If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes
a culture. Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or
participating in kidnapping has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such
individuals must be dismissed," Alausa said.
The minister explained that the decision followed reports
linking some students to kidnapping operations carried out outside their
campuses. Although he noted that most higher institutions remain peaceful, he
said recent incidents highlighted the need for stronger security measures and
better intelligence gathering.
Alausa directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to
strengthen internal security systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and
other security agencies to detect and prevent criminal activities before they
escalate.
He also revealed that he had recently met with the Minister
of Defence, General Christopher Musa
(retd.), to develop strategies aimed at strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative and improving
security across educational institutions.
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu's position, the minister stressed that no government
institution should negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom, warning that such
actions only encourage more crime.
Beyond security, Alausa announced that the 2027 TETFund intervention programme
would support security projects, including perimeter fencing and other critical
infrastructure. He also restated the government's commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme through
additional solar power and battery storage, while urging institutions to submit
proposals early to benefit from the initiative.
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