The Federal Government has announced the reopening of 47 Federal Unity Colleges earlier shut down due to security concerns across parts of the country.
The announcement was made in a statement on Thursday by the Federal Ministry of Education, following weeks of heightened insecurity that forced the temporary closure of the schools.
According to the ministry, academic activities have fully resumed after security measures were strengthened within and around the affected institutions.
“After the strengthening of security architecture within and around the affected schools, academic activities have fully resumed. Students have returned safely to their campuses, with many currently concluding their December academic programmes, while others have successfully completed their examinations,” the statement read.
The statement was signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry reassured parents, guardians, and the general public that the safety, welfare, and well-being of students remain a top priority, noting that the government continues to collaborate with relevant security agencies to maintain stability in school environments nationwide.
“The Federal Government remains resolute in its responsibility to protect every Nigerian child and to uphold their fundamental right to education in a safe and secure environment,” the statement added.
It also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to human capital development, stressing that education remains a critical pillar for national growth and development.
Background: School Closures Over Rising Insecurity
On November 21, 2025, the Federal Government ordered the immediate closure of 41 Unity Colleges following rising security threats, particularly in the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South.
The directive followed a surge in school attacks and mass abductions, including the kidnapping of over 300 pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, and the abduction of more than 20 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State.
The incidents revived memories of previous large-scale kidnappings, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in Borno State.
In response to the deteriorating situation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State to oversee rescue operations.
The President also postponed planned foreign trips as security agencies intensified efforts to address the threats and restore confidence in the education system.
The Ministry of Education said the safe return of students and successful conduct of examinations in several unity colleges underscored the government’s determination to prevent disruptions to the academic calendar despite ongoing security challenges.