Minister of Education Tunji Alausa has directed all vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to expel any student found guilty of kidnapping or other related criminal offences after a thorough investigation.
The minister gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Abuja, stressing that higher institutions must not become shelters for criminal activities.
Alausa also instructed the heads of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to improve campus security by creating effective internal intelligence systems and working more closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to prevent crimes within and around their institutions.
The meeting, led by FULafia Pro-Chancellor, Hon. Lola Fibisola Akande, focused on issues including campus security, student welfare, infrastructure and the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the education sector.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality, the minister warned that ignoring misconduct could allow it to become part of an institution’s culture.
He said:
“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 noted that although most Nigerian tertiary institutions remain safe, recent isolated cases involving students outside school premises highlight the need for stronger intelligence gathering and better coordination with security agencies.
