The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions across the country to immediately dismiss any student found culpable, following due investigation, of kidnapping or other violent crimes as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security on campuses.
The directive was issued on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with the Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Nasarawa State, where concerns were raised about the alleged involvement of some students in kidnapping activities carried out off campus.
The meeting, led by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Lola Akande, centred on campus security, infrastructure, student welfare and the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in higher education.
In a statement released by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to improve internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to curb criminal activities within and around campuses.
According to the minister, higher institutions must never become shelters for criminal elements.
“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,” Alausa said.
He added, “Government has a duty to protect innocent citizens and preserve our institutions as centres of learning and excellence.”
Alausa stated that although universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria remain largely secure, recent isolated cases involving students outside school premises highlight 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.
He also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that government institutions must not negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers.
“Yielding to criminal demands only emboldens criminal elements and undermines national efforts to combat insecurity,” the minister said, while urging governing councils to establish effective intelligence mechanisms and sustain close collaboration with the DSS and other security agencies.
Beyond security, Alausa announced that the Federal Government would fund security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) 2027 intervention programme. The projects will include perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure.
He further reaffirmed plans to expand the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power, noting that institutions requiring additional electricity capacity would be able to benefit through expanded solar energy generation and battery storage systems.
Earlier, Akande commended the Federal Government for its continued support for the university but identified inadequate hostel accommodation, electricity challenges at the institution’s second campus and insecurity as major issues affecting the institution.
She disclosed that some students were suspected of participating in kidnapping operations carried out outside the campus and maintained that the university strongly opposed paying ransom, stressing that such actions would encourage criminality.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, also praised the minister’s reforms and appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus, alongside additional office accommodation and staffing support.
In response, Alausa advised the university to submit formal requests under the relevant intervention programmes, assuring the institution that projects meeting the required standards and national priorities would receive appropriate consideration.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in safer schools, stronger institutions and modern infrastructure to build a globally competitive higher education system.
The directive comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve security in schools following years of attacks on educational institutions by kidnappers and other criminal groups, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In recent months, the Federal Ministry of Education has strengthened collaboration with security agencies under the Safe Schools Initiative while advancing reforms aimed at improving access to quality education. The ministry has also prioritised infrastructure development, digital learning, reliable electricity through the Energising Education Programme and increased intervention funding through TETFund as part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The meeting with the Federal University of Lafia also follows growing concerns over criminal activities involving some students outside campuses, prompting the government to insist on stronger surveillance, intelligence gathering and disciplinary measures to safeguard students and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
