By John Ikani
As Nigeria grapples unprecedented insecurity, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Education Secretariat has ordered owners of private schools across the country’s capital city Abuja to shut down operations.
A statement issued by the FCTA Secretariat to private school owners directed the schools to officially close on July 27. All academic activities, including external examinations, were also summarily suspended.
“Dear school educators, instruction reaching me now from the Ag. Director DQA is that the FCT Education secretariat has directed that schools are to make sure all examinations going on should be ended by Wednesday, July 27, 2022, and all students including those in boarding should be allowed to go home for the holiday,” the statement read.
“Those writing external examinations and schools that have planned their end of the year speech and prize giving day beyond Wednesday, 27th could go ahead as planned but must put adequate security in place to safeguard both students and staff of their schools, you are addressed strictly to the above instructions.”
The directive which comes amidst threats of attacks in the capital city, follows the immediate closure of the Federal Government College Kwali, located in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Tuesday.
While the FCTA Education Secretariat in its notice did not state the reason for the order for closure of schools, it was learnt that the move is to prevent any possible attack or abduction of students.
Recall that armed bandits killed about a dozen of soldiers in Abuja during a foiled invasion of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, a suburb of the nation’s capital on Monday.
Also, several security reports have warned of imminent bandit or terrorist attacks in Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and other states across central Nigeria.
Nasarawa State follows suit
Similarly, Nasarawa an adjoining state to Abuja has ordered immediate closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state.
In a directive out July 27, the state governor, Abdullahi Sule said disturbing attacks in Abuja and other contiguous states have left his administration with no other options but to close schools across Nasarawa.
Mr Sule said “following recurring” cases of “security breaches and threats in parts of the country, including some neighbouring states,” has directed “the immediate closure of both public and private primary and secondary Schools operating in state as a precautionary measure.”
The statement, signed by education commissioner Fatu Sabo, said those undertaking NECO and SSCE should remain behind to complete their examinations, stating that adequate security measures have been put in place to safeguard students.
