The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions across the country to expel any student found guilty of kidnapping or related criminal activities after due investigation, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security within Nigeria’s higher education system.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with the governing council and management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to the minister, institutions must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to criminality in order to preserve campuses as safe spaces for learning.
“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture,” Alausa 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.”
He stressed that while Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe, recent incidents involving students outside campuses highlight the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies.
To address emerging threats, the minister directed heads of tertiary institutions to establish effective internal intelligence systems and strengthen cooperation with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operating within their states.
According to him, protecting learners requires coordinated efforts between educational institutions and security agencies.
“We have a collective responsibility to protect every Nigerian child, from primary school to tertiary education,” he said, noting that security measures must extend beyond campus boundaries.
The minister disclosed that he recently held discussions with the Minister of Defence on expanding the Safe Schools Initiative and improving intelligence sharing among relevant agencies to better protect students nationwide.
As part of broader security interventions, Alausa announced that security infrastructure projects, including perimeter fencing and related facilities, would form part of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention programme for 2027. Institutions were advised to submit requests early to benefit from the initiative.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power, explaining that more tertiary institutions would benefit from improved solar-powered electricity infrastructure.
On the issue of kidnapping, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s policy against negotiating with or paying ransom to kidnappers, warning that such actions encourage criminal activities and undermine national security efforts.
The directive followed concerns raised by the leadership of the Federal University of Lafia over security challenges affecting some students. The institution’s governing council disclosed that investigations suggested the involvement of some students in kidnapping activities carried out off campus and reaffirmed its opposition to ransom payments.
The latest measures form part of the Federal Ministry of Education’s wider efforts to strengthen campus security, reinforce discipline and ensure that learning environments remain safe for students and staff across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
