The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts across the country to dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related crimes after a proper investigation.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa gave the directive during
a meeting with the governing council and management of the Federal University
of Lafia in Abuja.
He also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to improve
intelligence gathering on campuses and work more closely with the Department of
State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.
The minister said institutions must not allow criminal
activities to take root on campuses.
“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a
culture. 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.
Alausa further said that Nigeria’s universities,
polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe, but noted that
recent isolated cases involving students outside campuses show the need for
stronger security measures.
He added: “We have a collective responsibility to protect
every Nigerian child, from primary school to tertiary education. While our
campuses remain safe, we must continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and
work closely with our security agencies to ensure that students are protected
both within and outside our institutions.”
The minister revealed that he recently met with the Minister
of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated strategy
to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and improve security for students
nationwide.
He also restated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that
government institutions must not negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers,
warning that doing so only encourages criminal activities.
To improve campus security, Alausa said the Federal
Government would support security projects in tertiary institutions through the
2027 TETFund intervention programme.
The projects will include perimeter fencing and other
security facilities, while institutions needing additional electricity will
benefit from the expansion of the Energising Education Programme through more
solar power infrastructure.
During the meeting, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal
University of Lafia, Lola Akande, highlighted challenges facing the
institution, including inadequate hostel accommodation, power supply and
insecurity.
She disclosed that some students were suspected of
involvement in kidnappings carried out outside the campus and stressed that the
university strongly opposes paying ransom to kidnappers because it encourages
further crimes.
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