Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has urged vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts in Nigeria to expel any student discovered, after due process of investigation, to be involved in abduction or related crimes. Africans & Diaspora
Alausa also directed the heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen their internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies in their states. This is part of a nationwide strategy to safeguard campuses and protect students, the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister, Ikharo Attah, said in a statement.
He delivered the directive when he received the pro-chancellor, members of the governing council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, in his office in Abuja.
‘If you allow poor behaviour to go on for too long it becomes a culture. “No student who is found guilty of planning or taking part in the kidnapping of fellow students after due investigation has a place in our tertiary institutions. Such people should be canned. Our campuses can never be sanctuaries of criminal elements. The minister said: “Government has a responsibility to protect innocent citizens and to defend our institutions as centres of learning and excellence.
The minister said, while Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are still mainly safe and secure, recent isolated occurrences involving students outside campuses suggest the need for enhanced information gathering and greater collaboration with security services. Africans and the Diaspora
We all have a responsibility to defend every Nigerian Child, from Primary School to Tertiary Education. “Our campuses are safe but we need to continue to build the intelligence gathering and work closely with our security agencies to ensure that students are protected within and outside our institutions,” he said.
The minister said that he recently conducted a far-reaching meeting with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Retired) to evolve a coordinated approach to bolster the Safe Schools Initiative and improve the protection of learners in the country.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for providing the political will, strategic leadership and resources required to enhance the nation’s security and embark on far-reaching changes in the education sector. The minister said the administration was dedicated to ensuring that every Nigerian kid has access to quality education in a safe and conducive learning environment.
Alausa reiterated President Tinubu’s direction that no government institution should deal with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that succumbing to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and weakens national efforts to tackle insecurity.
He, therefore, urged governing councils and heads of tertiary institutions to put in place efficient internal intelligence procedures, maintain close communication with the DSS and other security agencies and take decisive action against anyone who threatens the safety of students.
On infrastructure, Alausa said the federal government would assist initiatives to improve security in tertiary institutions under the TETFund intervention programme in 2027, including the provision of perimeter fencing and other vital security facilities. He urged eligible universities to submit their requests early for consideration.
The minister also reiterated the federal government’s plans to extend the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power, saying the expansion of existing solar infrastructure through increased generation and battery storage could benefit institutions that need additional electricity capacity.
In his presentation, the pro-chancellor of the institution, Lola Akande, applauded the minister for the continued support of the institution. Some of the issues facing the college, she said, are hostel accommodation for students, electricity supply for Campus 2 and insecurity.
Some students of the college were suspected of being involved in abduction activities carried out outside the campus, she said, adding that some recent kidnappings pointed to that.
She said the institution was vehemently against paying ransom to secure the release of kidnapped victims as this would further embolden the crooks.
About the Author
