The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 47 of Nigeria’s Unity Colleges.
The directive, issued in a circular released on Friday, cites “recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches.”
The closure of the colleges, it said, was approved by Tunji Alausa, the minister of education.
The circular was signed by Binta Abdulkadir, director of senior secondary education, for the minister.
Principals of the affected colleges have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the order.
Below are the affected colleges:
FGGC MINJIBIR
FTC GANDUJE
FGGC ZARIA
FTC KAFANCHAN
FGGC BAKORI
FTC DAYI
FGC DAURA
FGGC TAMBUWAL
FSC SOKOTO
FTC WURNO
FGC GUSAU
FGC ANKA
FGGC GWANDU
FGC BIRNIN YAURI
FTC ZURU
FGGC KAZAURE
FGC KIYAWA
FTC HADEJA
FGGC BIDA
FGC NEW-BUSSA
FTC KUTA-SHIRORO
FGA SULEJA
FGC ILORIN
FGGC OMUARAN
FTC GWANARA
FGC UGWOLAWO
FGGC KABBA
FTC OGUGU
FGGC BWARI
FGC RUBOCHI
FGC ABAJI
FGGC KAZAURE
FGC KIYAWA
FTC HADEJIA
FGGC POTISKUM
FGC BUNI YADI
FTC GASHUA
FTC MICHIKA
FGC GANYE
FGC AZARE
FTC MISAU
FGGC BAJOGA
FGC BILLIRI
FTC ZAMBUK
FTC IKARE AKOKO
FTC IJEBU-IMUSIN
FTC USHI EKITI
Nigeria is battling a widespread and complex security crisis.
It is notably marked by a surge in mass abductions of school children across the north-west and north-central regions.
In a concentrated period of just one week in November, two major incidents involving schoolchildren occurred.
On November 17, some gunmen struck the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.
About 25 girls were abducted, and the school’s vice-principal was killed.
On November 21, armed men again attacked St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community, Agwara LGA of Niger.
The exact number of school children abducted in the attack is yet to be disclosed.
