The Federal Government has actually ordered vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions nationwide to expel any trainee found guilty, after due examination, of participation in kidnapping or other violent criminal offenses as part of efforts to strengthen security across campuses.
The instruction was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, throughout a conference with the governing council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, where issues were raised over the alleged participation of some students in kidnapping occurrences outside the university campus.
The conference, led by the organization’s Pro-Chancellor, Lola Akande, centred on issues connecting to campus security, trainee well-being, infrastructure and continuous reforms in the college sector.
In a declaration released by the minister’s Special Advisor on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen cooperation with the Department of State Solutions and other security companies to suppress criminal activities within and around schools.
He stressed that organizations of higher learning must not offer sanctuary for criminal aspects, cautioning that failure to attend to misconduct might motivate a culture of impunity.
According to the minister, any student developed to have actually taken part in the planning or execution of kidnapping operations, following an extensive examination, should no longer stay in the institution.
He noted that the federal government had an obligation to secure lives and preserve tertiary organizations as centres of academic excellence and moral discipline.
Although he preserved that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education throughout the country stayed largely safe, Alausa said recent events involving trainees outside school properties highlighted the need for stronger intelligence gathering and improved cooperation with security companies.
He added that safeguarding learners at all levels of education required a collective effort from government, institutions and security companies.
The minister revealed that he just recently consulted with the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), to establish a collaborated method targeted at reinforcing the Safe Schools Effort and enhancing security for students nationwide.
Alausa likewise repeated President Bola Tinubu’s regulation that federal government institutions should not work out with kidnappers or pay ransom, warning that such actions only encourage criminality and undermine nationwide security efforts.
He prompted governing councils of tertiary institutions to develop effective intelligence structures capable of recognizing and avoiding security threats before they intensify.
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Beyond security procedures, the minister announced that the Federal Government would support security-related tasks in tertiary institutions through the 2027 intervention programme of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, including perimeter fencing and other vital security facilities.
He also declared plans to broaden the Energising Education Program in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power, noting that institutions requiring extra electricity capacity could benefit from boosted solar energy and battery storage facilities.
Previously, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Lola Akande, acknowledged the Federal government’s support for the organization however recognized inadequate hostel lodging, electricity obstacles at the university’s 2nd school and insecurity as essential issues.
She revealed that the university had received reports linking some students to kidnapping activities performed off campus, including that the institution remained strongly opposed to the payment of ransom since it motivated criminal behaviour.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mohammed Kida, also commended the Federal government’s education reforms and appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus. He further asked for additional workplace accommodation and increased staffing assistance.
Responding to the requests, Alausa advised the university to submit formal proposals under the appropriate intervention programmes, ensuring the management that predicts lined up with national priorities and developed standards would receive proper consideration.
The minister declared the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing school security, expanding facilities and enhancing the quality of tertiary education as part of efforts to develop an internationally competitive higher education systems.
The regulation comes amidst renewed efforts by the Federal Government to enhance security in educational institutions following years of attacks by abductors and other criminal groups, especially in parts of northern Nigeria.
In current months, the Federal Ministry of Education has heightened collaboration with security companies under the Safe Schools Initiative while likewise pursuing reforms focused on infrastructure development, digital knowing, enhanced electricity supply through the Energising Education Program and increased investment in tertiary education through TETFund.
The conference with the Federal University of Lafia likewise shows growing concerns over criminal activities including some students outside campuses, prompting the government to call for stronger security, intelligence gathering and disciplinary procedures throughout Nigeria’s higher education institutions.