A leading figure of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has admonished the Federal Government against closing schools in response to rising insecurity, insisting that authorities must instead invest in measures that protect students and learning environments.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Monday, Galadima described the closure of educational institutions as a national embarrassment. According to him, shutting down schools due to fear of attacks reflects poorly on the government and undermines the country’s commitment to education.
“It is a failure on the part of leadership to close down schools,” the NNPP chieftain said. “The priority should be finding ways to protect those schools, not abandoning them.”
Galadima acknowledged the pressure facing state governments as they attempt to safeguard students while maintaining academic activities. However, he stressed that the solution lies in forward-thinking security strategies, not retreat.
He urged the federal authorities to move beyond conventional, manpower-driven security tactics and embrace technology-based systems capable of identifying threats before they materialize. According to him, proactive intelligence and specialized rapid-response units would provide more effective protection for students.
Galadima’s remarks follow a renewed wave of student abductions, particularly in northern states. In reaction to the surge, the Federal Government recently ordered the immediate closure of 41 federal unity colleges across the country.
A statement issued by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, on behalf of the Minister of Education, described the move as a preventive measure aimed at averting possible security breaches. School principals were directed to comply without delay.