Why all schools won’t open in Niger Jan.12  – Commissioner 

By Aideloje Ojo

Minna

The Niger State Commissioner of Basic Education Dr. Hadiza Asebe Mohammed has confirmed that only schools cleared by security agencies are allowed to open on January 12, 2026 explaining that not all schools in the state are save to open.

The commissioner stated this Tuesday in a stakeholders meeting with all education stakeholders in Minna.

She explained that the opening of schools early closed due to insecurity and banditry activities will now open following security improvements in some places adding that, ” however the opening of schools will be in phases”.

According to her, ” only schools in Chanchaga, Suleja, Bida and part of Bosso Local governments are to open next week Monday. These are schools within the cities of the state which have been satisfied safe to begin academic activities by security reports and advice to the Ministry of Basic education”.

The commissioner warned that government will sanction any school that opened without security clearance adding that the administration is making efforts to ensure that other schools are secured enough to reopen without much delay “.

She assured that it could be a matter of days, not months for other closed schools to open insisting that such decisions must however be based on security clearance.

” Niger state has 45 boarding schools and we initially planned to open 21 of them on January 12, 2026. However with the incident in Kotangora axis, the number has been reduced to 18 schools”.

She said that the state  Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has directed local government Chairmen to ensure the safety of schools in their domains by engaging and collaborating with security agencies in addition to recruiting guards men.

The commissioner said that the ministry would commence the collection of accurate data of students and teachers as the schools are resuming academic activities