education

Niger Orders IBBU Lapai Closure

Published

11 months ago

June 26, 2025

Following student killing and protests, Niger State has ordered IBBU Lapai closure indefinitely for security reasons

The IBBU Lapai closure has been ordered indefinitely by the Niger State Government, following recent security breaches that claimed the life of a student and sparked widespread unrest within the university community.

Also read: Woli Arole condemns campus exploitation by fellowship leaders

Governor Mohammed Bago directed that the institution be shut down “with immediate effect” to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

This directive was issued in a statement on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman.

“This decision comes in light of recent security breaches and the unfortunate loss of lives within the university community,” the statement read.

It further emphasised, “The safety and security of all citizens, including the students, remain a top priority for the government.”

The closure follows violent protests by students over the brutal killing of Abdulwahab Jafar, a 200-level Chemistry student.

Jafar was reportedly attacked during a suspected armed robbery at a private student lodge known as “Ndakitabu.”

The tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, sent shockwaves across the university, prompting hundreds of students to take to the streets in anger.

The safety and security of all citizens, including the students, remain a top priority for the government.

During the protest, the students reportedly damaged school property and blocked roads, demanding justice and urgent government intervention to improve campus security and student welfare.

The university’s management and state authorities had since been in talks to calm the situation, with lawmakers from the State House of Assembly also visiting the campus to assess the crisis.

Governor Bago expressed deep sorrow over the incident and stated that investigations were underway to identify the robbers.

He also called on members of the university community to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.

“The government is working diligently to restore order and maintain peace. Every effort is being taken to investigate the security breaches and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement added.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of lives and property across Niger State.

It promised to put stronger security measures in place before the university eventually reopens.

IBBU Lapai, a prominent public university in Niger State, has faced mounting concerns in recent months over inadequate student accommodation and poor security around off-campus lodges.

Also read: LASUSTECH flourishes under Prof. Odusanya achieving global impact through Innovation, academic excellence

This recent killing has reignited debates about the state of infrastructure and student safety in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

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education

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s Low UTME Cut-Off Mark

Published

5 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Victory Emmanuel

Lagos rejects JAMB’s 150 UTME benchmark, insisting state-owned universities will not admit candidates below 185

The Lagos State Government has rejected the 150 minimum cut-off mark approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for university admissions, insisting that candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will not gain admission into any of its state-owned universities.

Also read: JAMB Sets Deadline for Universities, Polytechnics to Complete Admissions

Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed the state’s position on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa to commemorate the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Sule described the benchmark approved by JAMB as excessively low for Lagos institutions, stressing that the state would not compromise its educational standards.

“To us in Lagos State, the cut-off marks approved by JAMB look too low for our universities. None of our three universities is admitting any student who scored below 185 in the UTME,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner argued that while JAMB’s decision may have been designed to accommodate candidates across the country’s six geo-political zones, Lagos could not be categorised alongside states with lower educational performance indicators.

“For JAMB to announce 150 as the cut-off mark out of the 400 obtainable marks in the UTME for this year’s admission seekers is very low,” Sule stated.

“Lagos cannot be considered educationally disadvantaged to the extent of bringing its cut-off mark down to meet what Sokoto or Zamfara State requires,” he added.

Sule maintained that the state government would continue making strategic investments in tertiary education infrastructure while preserving high admission standards.

He noted that the increase in Lagos State-owned universities from one to three reflects the administration’s determined efforts to expand access to higher education opportunities.

According to the commissioner, plans are also underway to establish a fourth state-owned university to accommodate more admission seekers.

“Increasing our universities from one to three is still part of what the state governor is doing to provide more educational platforms and opportunities for Lagos residents,” Sule said.

“And increasing the number to four is still part of this effort by the state government to give all admission seekers the opportunity to get tertiary education in Lagos,” he added.

Also read: JAMB Confirms UTME 2026 Exam Centre Details

The development is expected to fuel fresh debate over university admission standards and the widening disparities in educational performance across states following JAMB’s latest admission policy announcement.