Alausa Orders VCs, Rectors, Provosts to Expel Students Found Guilty of Kidnapping

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has directed vice chancellors, rectors and provosts across the country to dismiss any student found culpable of involvement in kidnapping or related crimes after due investigation.

He also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to improve campus security and protect students.

Alausa gave the directives during a meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) at his office in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Hon. Lola Fibisola Akande.

The meeting, which lasted about two hours, focused on campus security, infrastructure development, student welfare and the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in higher education.

Although he maintained that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country remain largely safe, the minister said recent isolated incidents involving students outside campuses underscored the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies.

“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,” he said.

Alausa disclosed that he recently held a strategic meeting with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated approach towards strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative and improving the protection of learners nationwide.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for providing what he described as the political will and resources required to improve security while pursuing reforms in the education sector.

The minister reiterated the Federal Government’s position that no public institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that such actions only encourage criminality.

He therefore directed governing councils and management of tertiary institutions to establish effective intelligence mechanisms, maintain close collaboration with security agencies and take decisive action against anyone who threatens the safety of students.

“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,” Alausa said.

He announced that the Federal Government would support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 2027 intervention programme.

According to him, the intervention will cover perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure, while eligible institutions have been encouraged to submit requests for consideration.

The minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power to enable institutions requiring additional electricity to benefit from expanded solar generation and battery storage facilities.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Hon. Lola Fibisola Akande, thanked the minister for the Federal Government’s support for the institution but drew attention to challenges confronting the university.

She identified inadequate student hostel accommodation, power supply to the institution’s second campus and insecurity among the major concerns.

Akande disclosed that some students were suspected to be involved in kidnapping activities carried out outside the university, noting that recent incidents had heightened concerns.

She added that the institution remained opposed to the payment of ransom, insisting that such actions would only embolden criminal groups.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, also commended the minister for what he described as bold reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector.

Kida appealed to the Federal Government to extend the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus and requested additional office accommodation and increased staffing to improve teaching, research and administration.

Responding, Alausa advised the university to submit formal requests under the relevant intervention programmes, assuring the management that projects meeting the required criteria and aligning with national priorities would receive due consideration.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in safer schools, stronger institutions and modern infrastructure, saying the Ministry of Education would continue working with security agencies and governing councils to ensure campuses remain secure and conducive for learning.