Why Unity Colleges will remain shut - FG

By Johnson Arua

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Unity Colleges across the country following a resurgence of attacks and abductions targeting schools in parts of Nigeria.

The directive was issued weekend in a statement signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, on behalf of the Minister of Education. According to the ministry, the move is a precautionary measure to forestall security breaches and protect students.

“All principals of the affected schools are to ensure full compliance with this directive without delay,” the statement read.

A breakdown of the circular shows that the affected schools are predominantly located in the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions, where insecurity has escalated in recent weeks.

The schools ordered to shut down include:
FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia, FGGC Bida, FGC New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran, FTC Gwanara, FGGC Bakori, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FTC Ogugu, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji and FGGC Potiskum.

Others are: FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri and FTC Zambuk.

The decision comes just days after armed men abducted students from a school in Kebbi State, and barely hours after another mass abduction was reported in Niger State on Friday.

The ministry assured that it is working with security agencies to strengthen the safety of schools before they are reopened.