By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has convened an inter-ministerial meeting aime...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has convened an inter-ministerial meeting aimed at ensuring the safe, coordinated, and hitch-free reopening of schools across the state.
The meeting was hosted by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, and brought together Commissioners and senior officials from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) whose mandates are critical to school safety and effective service delivery.
Deliberations focused on strengthening inter-agency collaboration to safeguard learners, teachers, and school communities. Key areas discussed included security arrangements, health and sanitation measures, emergency preparedness, infrastructure readiness, student welfare, and the enforcement of existing safety protocols in both public and private schools.
Dr. Hadiza Mohammed stressed that the safe reopening of schools remains a top priority of the Niger State Government under the leadership of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, noting that education cannot thrive without a secure and enabling environment. She emphasised the need for all relevant MDAs to work in synergy to mitigate risks and ensure full compliance with government directives.
The Commissioner further disclosed that, in view of recent security incidents recorded on Sunday, January 4, 2026—particularly the attacks at Kasuwan Daji and the Mobile Police Quarters in Wawa, both in Borgu Local Government Area—the state government has conducted a fresh review of the security situation based on expert advice from security agencies.
According to her, the safety and well-being of students, teachers, school administrators, and the general public remain the government’s highest priority. Consequently, based on security concerns raised within the last 48 hours in the Niger North Senatorial District, the government has approved the extension of the closure of all public and private schools in Zone C, pending further security clearance.
However, parents, guardians, and school authorities in Bida Metropolis in Zone A, as well as Minna, Bosso, and Suleja in Zone B Local Government Areas, have been advised to continue preparations for resumption as earlier announced for both public and private (day and boarding) schools.
Contributing Commissioners at the meeting reaffirmed their Ministries’ commitment to supporting the education sector, assuring that necessary measures within their respective jurisdictions would be deployed to facilitate a smooth and safe reopening of schools.
The meeting resolved to intensify coordination, monitoring, and information sharing among stakeholders, while also engaging school administrators, parents, and host communities to sustain a culture of safety and vigilance.
The inter-ministerial engagement forms part of a broader strategy by the Niger State Government to reposition the education sector and safeguard the future of its children through proactive planning and collective responsibility.
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