Wike condemns a false school-closure directive in Abuja and vows sanctions for officials behind the unauthorised memo.

Abuja, Nigeria, 27 November 2025 – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday condemned a false school-closure directive issued within the Federal Capital Territory, vowing that all officials involved would face disciplinary action.

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He spoke while inspecting infrastructure developments at A11 in the Guzape district.

Nyesom Wike described the unauthorised memo as unimaginable, noting that no director had the authority to order the shutdown of schools without explicit approval from the top levels of government.

He added that even he would not issue such an instruction without first informing President Bola Tinubu, stressing that no security threat existed in Abuja to justify the alarm.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration had already dismissed the circulating report on Tuesday, describing it as misleading and capable of unsettling residents.

The memo in question, signed by Aishatu Sani Alhassan, Director of School Services at the FCT Secondary Education Board, claimed that all schools should close early because of security concerns.

The document, titled Urgent Need for Early Closure of Schools Due To Security Concerns, instructed principals to end academic activities immediately.

The minister said such a move conveyed a dangerous impression that the capital was under threat, a notion he insisted had no basis.

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to the minister, Lere Olayinka, later reassured parents and school authorities that the academic calendar remained unchanged.

He urged the public to disregard the rumour, underscoring the administration’s commitment to maintaining stability.

The Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo, was suspended as the controversy unfolded.

Additional directors linked to the process are to be sanctioned according to civil service rules.

Wike said the incident reflected a troubling lapse in judgment and warned that the administration would take firm action to prevent similar breaches.

The minister said the episode demonstrated how misinformation can spread quickly when internal procedures are ignored.

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He emphasised that discipline and accuracy were non-negotiable, especially in a city of such national significance, and called the unauthorised memo a reckless act with potentially damaging consequences.