Abuja, November 26, 2025 – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has moved decisively to quash a malicious rumour that all government schools in the territory had been ordered to close by Friday, November 28, 2025. In a series of strongly worded statements issued on Tuesday evening, the administration branded the circulating circular as “completely false, unauthorized, and misleading,” insisting that no such directive had ever been contemplated or approved at any level.
The fake circular, which spread rapidly across WhatsApp groups, Facebook, Twitter (X), and even some local radio stations, had triggered widespread panic among parents and guardians, many of whom began withdrawing their children from school and making frantic enquiries. The timing of the hoax was particularly inflammatory, coming just weeks after several northern states were forced to shut schools following a fresh wave of student abductions by armed criminal gangs.
In an immediate response that underscored the seriousness with which the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, views the incident, the Mandate Secretary for Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, was suspended with immediate effect. The minister also directed the Acting Head of Service, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan, to commence full disciplinary proceedings against the Director of School Services, Mrs. Aishatu Sani Alhassan, who reportedly appended her signature to the unauthorized document. Sources within the administration told journalists that the minister was “visibly furious” that such a document could emanate from the Education Secretariat without clearance from his office.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the FCTA urged parents, pupils, students, and school administrators to completely disregard the fake circular and adhere strictly to the approved academic calendar, which remains unchanged. “There is no closure of schools in the FCT. Academic activities continue normally. Any contrary information is the handiwork of mischief-makers,” Olayinka declared.
The suspended Mandate Secretary, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, addressed journalists at a hurriedly arranged media briefing on Tuesday night, expressing shock and disbelief at the development. Visibly shaken, he distanced himself entirely from the controversial circular, stating that he first became aware of it the same way members of the public did—through social media.
“I saw the circular the same way you saw it. I was surprised. The officer who signed that circular has no authority whatsoever to do so,” Dr. Hayyo said. “In the FCT Administration, only the Honourable Minister has the power to approve the closure of schools. I never received any memo, any verbal instruction, or any approval from the minister suggesting that schools should close by 28th November or any other date. Absolutely nothing warranted such a decision.”
He went on to reassure parents that every government school in the territory remained open and secure. “Teaching and learning are going on unhindered. There is no cause for alarm. All our schools are safe,” he stressed, urging residents not to allow rumour-mongers to disrupt academic activities.
The FCTA’s swift denunciation and disciplinary measures appear designed not only to restore calm but also to send a strong message that bureaucratic sabotage and the peddling of fake news will not be tolerated, especially on issues that touch directly on the safety of children.
While declining to speculate on the motive behind the hoax, administration insiders hinted that the incident might be linked to internal power struggles within the Education Secretariat or an attempt by disgruntled elements to embarrass the Wike-led administration. Security agencies have reportedly been brought in to trace the origin and sponsors of the fake circular.
In a related development, the FCT Minister has ordered the immediate reactivation of Operation Sweep—a coordinated security patrol involving the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence personnel—across the six area councils. Other security initiatives, including visible policing around schools and the deployment of undercover operatives, have also been intensified.
Residents have welcomed the administration’s decisive response. Mrs. Fatima Yusuf, a parent in Garki, told reporters, “We were terrified when we saw the circular. My children were already crying that they didn’t want to go to school. I’m relieved that the minister has spoken clearly and taken action against those who caused this panic.”
As schools reopened fully on Wednesday morning, November 26, the atmosphere in most public institutions across Nyanya, Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Kwali, and the city centre was one of cautious relief. Teachers and principals confirmed that attendance was near normal, with only a handful of pupils still kept at home by overly anxious parents.
The FCTA has promised to issue fresh official communication to all schools and parents in the coming days, restating the academic calendar and outlining additional safety measures. Meanwhile, the suspended officials await the outcome of the disciplinary panel, which civil service sources say could lead to dismissal if due process confirms deliberate misconduct.
For now, academic stability has been restored in the nation’s capital, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of public confidence in an era where fake news can spread faster than official rebuttals—and the heavy responsibility that rests on public officials to guard against internal sabotage that can endanger children’s education and peace of mind.
