By early January 2026, as pupils across Nigeria return for the second term of the 2025/2026 academic session, a clear divide has emerged in how schools are reopening across the country. While many southern states resumed academic activities smoothly and on schedule, large parts of the North are reopening cautiously, in phases, or not at all.
The difference is largely driven by security concerns, with education authorities in several northern states prioritising student safety over strict adherence to the national academic calendar.
Two Regions, Two Realities
Across the South-West, South-East and South-South, state governments enforced what officials described as a day-one resumption policy. Public and private schools reopened immediately after the festive break, with warnings issued against misinformation and unauthorised extensions of holidays.
In states such as Rivers, Ogun and parts of the South-East, education authorities insisted that lessons must begin immediately, citing the need to complete syllabuses ahead of the 2026 national examinations. In contrast, the picture in much of northern Nigeria has been markedly different.
Insecurity and the Burden on Northern Schools
Before the Christmas and New Year holidays, several northern states experienced renewed waves of insecurity, including bandit attacks and terrorist incidents that directly targeted schools.
In Niger State, students and teachers were abducted from a secondary school in the early hours of a Friday. Days earlier, in Kebbi State, armed attackers killed a vice principal, abducted a school principal and kidnapped 25 schoolgirls from a boarding school.
These incidents deepened fears among parents and forced the closure of many schools.
Education officials say the attacks are part of a wider pattern that has plagued the region for more than a decade.
A Troubling History of School Attacks
Nigeria has recorded repeated attacks on schools, particularly in the North. These include the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, the Dapchi girls in 2018, the kidnapping of 303 students from Kankara in Katsina State in 2020, and the abduction of 317 schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara State, in 2021.
That same year, students and teachers were also taken from Government Science College, Kagara, in Niger State.
The cumulative effect has been widespread fear around boarding schools, which security experts say are often viewed by armed groups as easy targets.
Federal Government Steps In
Following the latest spate of attacks, the Federal Government ordered the immediate closure of more than 40 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.
The directive, issued through official circulars from the Federal Ministry of Education, was intended to protect lives but also disrupted the academic calendar nationwide.
Many students were sent home abruptly, with no certainty about when they would return to class.
Post-Holiday Resumption: Conditional and Uneven
After the festive period, state governments began announcing plans for schools to reopen. However, many of these directives came with conditions that reflected lingering security concerns.
In several northern states, resumption was approved only for schools in areas officially declared safe. Boarding students were often brought back first, sometimes under security escort, while day students were scheduled to resume weeks later.
In some schools, the first week of reopening was devoted to catch-up examinations rather than new lessons, as learning had been disrupted by earlier closures.
Southern States Maintain Calendar Discipline
Meanwhile, southern states maintained strict adherence to their academic calendars.
In Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, education authorities publicly dismissed rumours of extended holidays and warned schools against delaying resumption. Similar firmness was observed across the South-East, where officials said completing the syllabus early was critical for examination readiness.
Here, education policy remained driven by administration and planning, rather than security considerations.
North-Central: A Mixed Picture
Some North-Central states, such as Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adopted a hybrid approach.
In Kwara State, the government ordered schools to reopen on January 5, 2026, except in areas under special security surveillance. To support pupils in those areas, the state launched a radio-based learning programme, supported by UNICEF and the Nigeria Learning Passport.
The FCT approved January 4 as the resumption date but also emphasised security coordination with school administrators.
Different Dates, Different Futures
By mid-January 2026, resumption dates across states varied widely:
Rivers and Ogun resumed on January 5
The FCT resumed on January 4
Lagos scheduled resumption for January 12
Niger and Plateau approved reopening only in secure areas from January 12
Parts of Kwara reopened physically, while others relied on radio learning
Education experts warn that prolonged disparities in learning time could worsen existing inequalities between students across regions.
The Human Cost of Policy Decisions
Beyond official statements, the impact is most visible in students’ daily lives.
In Taraba State, where boarding hostels were shut down as a security measure, students who once lived within school premises now travel long distances daily. Teachers report irregular attendance, fatigue, and reduced concentration in classrooms.
“For many students, boarding school offered structure, supervision and stability,” an education official said. “Those supports are now gone.”
Balancing Safety and Education
State governments insist that the phased and conditional resumption of schools is necessary.
Officials in Niger, Kwara and Plateau states say decisions were taken after security assessments and consultations with relevant agencies, stressing that student safety remains paramount.
However, education advocates argue that without lasting improvements in security, northern students will continue to lose valuable learning time.
A Nation on Two Academic Clocks
As Nigeria settles into the second term of the school year, the contrast between regions remains stark. In the South, classrooms are fully active. In much of the North, education continues under surveillance, caution and uncertainty.
Until security challenges are addressed decisively, experts say Nigeria’s education system will continue to operate on two different clocks, leaving millions of children struggling to keep pace.
