The Federal Government has ordered the immediate temporary closure of 47 Unity Colleges, citing escalating security threats in various parts of the country. The directive was issued in a circular signed on 21 November 2025 by Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, on behalf of Education Minister Tunji Alausa.
According to the circular, the shutdown aims to prevent potential “security breaches” amid growing instability that has put students and staff at risk. The principals of the impacted schools have been instructed to comply strictly with the closure order pending further review.
Meanwhile, the governments of Plateau and Katsina states have also ordered the temporary closure of schools across several districts.
The Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB) has directed all Government Junior Model Secondary Schools (GJMSSs) to close from Saturday, while primary and day schools will shut starting on Monday.
In an official statement, PSUBEB said the move was necessary to “avert potential risks” to learners, urging educators, local authorities and communities to remain alert.
Plateau’s Public Relations Officer for SUBEB, Richard Jonah, emphasized that the closure is a “temporary but necessary step,” reflecting the government’s priority to place children’s safety above academic continuity.
In Katsina State, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Yusuf Jibia announced that schools would be closed statewide pending a “comprehensive security review” of high-risk areas.
According to the commissioner, the directive also applies to students currently writing examinations, underscoring the gravity of the security threat.
Katsina authorities explained that the shutdown aligns with a newly developed statewide school safety strategy, which will guide security agencies’ enhanced deployment to vulnerable communities.
The school closures in both states come against a backdrop of mounting insecurity in northern Nigeria. In Katsina, an Oxford Policy Management report released earlier this month revealed that 330 students were abducted in the state between 2020 and 2025, contributing to the closure of 52 schools across several local government areas.
The report also noted that fear continues to disrupt learning, with many students and teachers reporting that insecurity undermines their sense of safety in school.
Similarly, UN-backed research highlighted how insecurity in Katsina, Zamfara and Niger states has severely limited access to education.
In Plateau, while PSUBEB did not cite a particular attack for the closure, officials referred to intelligence reports that identified potential threats, prompting urgent preventive action.
Some parents and community members have welcomed the move, citing the need to prioritize children’s lives over schooling when danger mounts. Others, however, expressed concern over prolonged disruptions to academic calendars, especially for students nearing critical exam periods.
