The Federal Government has directed Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts across the country to immediately dismiss any student found guilty, after due investigation, of involvement in kidnapping or related criminal activities.

The directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with the Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Lafia at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and work closely with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to improve safety on campuses nationwide.

Dr. Alausa said although Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe, recent isolated cases involving students outside school premises have made it necessary to tighten security and intelligence gathering.

The Minister disclosed that he recently met with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), to develop a coordinated strategy for strengthening the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative across the country.

He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that no government institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that such actions only encourage criminality.

According to the Minister, any student found to have planned or participated in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and must be expelled after due investigation.

Dr. Alausa also announced that the Federal Government will support security infrastructure in tertiary institutions through the 2027 TETFund intervention programme, including perimeter fencing and other security facilities.

He further reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme to improve electricity supply in higher institutions through solar power projects.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Dr. Mrs. Adebimpe Adebajo, commended the Federal Government for its continued support but highlighted challenges facing the institution, including inadequate hostel accommodation, power supply to the university’s second campus and security concerns.

She disclosed that some students were suspected to have been involved in kidnapping activities outside the campus and stressed that the university strongly opposes the payment of ransom to kidnappers.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, applauded the Minister’s reforms and appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the university’s second campus, as well as additional office accommodation and staffing support.

Responding, Dr. Alausa assured the university that projects meeting the required conditions under relevant intervention programmes would receive due consideration.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building safer schools, strengthening higher education institutions and providing modern infrastructure to improve teaching, research and national development.