The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions to dismiss, after due investigation, any student involved in kidnapping or related crimes.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, yesterday.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the minister said: ‘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.’
He said Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were largely safe, but recent isolated cases involving students outside campuses showed the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS).
Alausa reiterated that no public institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that doing so would encourage criminality. He directed governing councils to establish internal intelligence mechanisms, saying he had met the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative nationwide.
On infrastructure, the minister said the Federal Government would fund security upgrades, including perimeter fencing, in tertiary institutions through TETFund’s 2027 intervention programme, and urged eligible institutions to apply early. He also reaffirmed plans to expand the Energising Education Programme with the Federal Ministry of Power for institutions needing more electricity capacity.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Dr Adebimpe Adebajo, commended the Federal Government’s support to the institution but identified inadequate hostel accommodation, power supply to its second campus and insecurity as major challenges. She said some students were suspected of involvement in off-campus kidnapping activities, adding that the university opposed ransom payment because it would embolden criminals.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, commended the minister’s reforms and appealed for the Energising Education Programme to be extended to the university’s second campus, along with additional office space and staff. Alausa advised the university to submit formal requests for consideration under the relevant programmes.