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Abuja, November 26, 2025 – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has firmly dismissed claims of any security threat severe enough to justify the closure of schools in the nation’s capital, describing a circulating directive to shut down public senior secondary schools as unauthorized, misleading, and highly irresponsible.
Speaking on Wednesday while inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in the Guzape district of Abuja, the Minister expressed shock and disappointment upon learning of a circular that had been issued to schools, purportedly from the FCT Education Secretariat, instructing an early closure by November 28. Mr. Wike categorically stated that he had neither been informed of nor approved any such directive.
“I was watching television last night and saw a report claiming that the FCT had directed schools to shut down. I couldn’t believe it,” the Minister recounted. “I immediately contacted the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, and when he couldn’t provide an explanation, I dug deeper. It turned out a circular had been issued to all schools without my knowledge or approval.”
Describing the incident as “very unfortunate” and “unimaginable,” Mr. Wike emphasized that no individual or department within the FCT Administration has the authority to issue such a far-reaching directive without his express consent—and even he, as Minister, would require the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before contemplating school closures on security grounds.
“This is the Federal Capital Territory,” he stressed. “Declaring that schools must close because of insecurity sends a terrible message—that Abuja is unsafe. Kaduna State, despite its challenges, has never shut down schools statewide. Neither has Nasarawa nor Kogi. So on what basis would anyone claim there is a threat serious enough to disrupt education in the FCT?”
The Minister revealed that he convened an emergency check with members of the FCT Security Committee, including the Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies. According to him, none of the security chiefs had any intelligence suggesting an imminent threat to schools, and school closure was never discussed, let alone recommended.
In response to the breach of protocol, Mr. Wike announced the immediate and indefinite suspension of the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo. Directors and other officials found to have been involved in drafting, approving, or circulating the document will face disciplinary action in strict accordance with civil service rules.
“Nobody involved in this saga will be spared,” the Minister warned. “This kind of reckless action undermines public confidence and creates unnecessary panic.”
The controversial circular had been signed on Tuesday by Mrs. Aishatu Alhassan, Director of School Services in the FCT Secondary Education Board. It directed all public senior secondary schools to commence early closure ahead of the scheduled end of term, citing security concerns and claiming the directive had been approved by the Mandate Secretary.
Dr. Hayyo, however, swiftly distanced himself from the document, branding it “fake” and insisting that he had neither seen nor endorsed it. “Only the Honourable Minister has the authority to issue such a circular,” he told journalists. “The way you saw the circular is exactly how I saw it—completely unauthorized.”
Yet, in a swift escalation shortly after Dr. Hayyo’s public denial, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, issued a statement announcing the Mandate Secretary’s suspension. The statement also disclosed that the acting FCT Head of Service, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan, had been directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Mrs. Alhassan and any other complicit officials.
Mr. Olayinka described the entire episode as “false and misleading,” urging parents, guardians, students, and school administrators to completely disregard the rumour. He reaffirmed that the approved academic calendar for the 2025/2026 session remains unchanged and that all schools are expected to continue normal academic activities.
To further reassure residents, the Minister has ordered the immediate reactivation and intensification of Operation Sweep—a joint security patrol initiative involving the police, military, and other agencies—across the territory. Additional measures, including increased surveillance around schools and public places, have also been rolled out.
Security agencies operating in the FCT have echoed the Minister’s position, stating that while they remain vigilant against all forms of criminality, there is currently no specific or credible intelligence indicating a threat to educational institutions that would warrant disruption of academic activities.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among parents and residents, many of whom had begun making alternative arrangements for their children after the circular went viral on social media. Schools in areas such as Garki, Wuse, Maitama, and Asokoro reportedly received the document and began notifying parents, triggering anxiety despite the absence of any official pronouncement from the FCT Administration.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the Minister’s decisive intervention, describing the unauthorized circular as a dangerous act of sabotage that could have caused unnecessary chaos in an already tense national security climate.
As investigations continue into how the document was produced and disseminated, the FCT Administration has promised to get to the root of the matter and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable. For now, normalcy has been restored: schools remain open, academic activities continue uninterrupted, and the nation’s capital reaffirms its status as a safe and secure environment for learning and living.
Parents have been advised to direct any further concerns to official FCT Education Secretariat channels rather than rely on unverified circulars or social media posts. The Administration has also urged the public to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities promptly.
In the words of Minister Wike, “Abuja is safe. Our children will continue to go to school without fear. Anyone who tries to spread panic under the guise of authority will be dealt with decisively.”
