IBBU remains closed until security is strengthened – Niger Govt insists

The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, following recent security breaches that forced the school’s indefinite closure.

Governor Umar Bago made this clear during a meeting with stakeholders from Lapai Emirate and the university management at the Government House in Minna.

Governor Bago stated that the institution remains an important part of the state’s educational system and will only reopen when a new, reliable security arrangement is put in place to guarantee the safety of students, staff, and property. He disclosed that a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Lapai would soon be organised to emphasise the government’s stand, while local security structures, including a vigilante group, would be established in collaboration with the council chairman to bolster security across the local government area.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Bago stressed the importance of harmonious coexistence between the host community and the university for the socio-economic development of the area. He tasked the institution’s management to work with the State Security Committee in recruiting, training, and equipping personnel who would handle campus security, while introducing identity cards embedded with codes to enhance access control.

Governor Bago further warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of security breakdown under his watch and assured parents of the government’s resolve to safeguard their children. He revealed plans to make parents sign undertakings for the conduct of their wards in the university environment, stressing that tough measures would be applied against anyone found destabilising the peace on campus.

On the issue of student accommodation, the governor advised the university management to engage developers through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) arrangement to solve the hostel shortage problem, rather than depending solely on the state government. He also directed that, within the next three years, all satellite campuses be shut down and academic activities fully relocated to the main campus in Lapai.

The Vice Chancellor of IBBU Lapai, Prof. Mohammed Hadi Suleiman, acknowledged the governor’s efforts and highlighted ongoing moves to attract interventions that would improve hostel accommodation and enhance the university’s capacity to provide a safer, more conducive learning environment.