The Niger State Government in north-central Nigeria has announced that public and private schools located in areas assessed as secure will resume academic activities on Monday, 12 January 2026, following months of closure triggered by security threats.
Okay News reports that the decision was reached after comprehensive security evaluations and consultations with multiple safety agencies operating within the state, which has been affected by repeated attacks on educational institutions.
The directive was issued through an official statement signed by Dr. Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Niger State, and released by the Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education on Friday, 02 January 2026. The document was retrieved on Saturday, 03 January 2026.
According to the statement titled “Reopening of Public and Private Schools in Niger State,” Nigeria’s Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, formally approved the reopening plan.
“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has graciously approved the reopening of schools across the state, effective Monday, 12th January 2026,” the statement read.
The government explained that the approval followed a careful balance between security concerns and the need to restore uninterrupted access to education for children across the state.
“This decision follows careful security assessments and extensive consultations with relevant security agencies, in line with the Governor’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives while ensuring uninterrupted access to quality education for all children in Niger State,” the release stated.
The Ministry clarified that only schools located in locations classified as safe would be allowed to reopen at this stage.
“All public and private schools located in safe and secure areas of the state shall reopen on Monday, 12th January 2026,” the statement said.
It further extended the approval to boarding schools within secure locations.
“All public and private boarding schools situated in safe and secure areas are also approved to reopen on Monday, 12th January 2026,” the release added.
However, schools located in areas still facing security challenges will remain shut.
“All public and private day and boarding schools located in unsafe or insecure areas shall, in the interim, remain closed until such areas are duly assessed and cleared by relevant security authorities,” the government said.
As part of the reopening requirements, school administrators were directed to immediately register all returning students once activities resume.
“As a mandatory requirement for reopening, all school authorities are directed to register all returning students immediately upon resumption. The compiled data must be submitted to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education within one week of resumption for proper documentation and monitoring,” the statement noted.
Local government leaders were also assigned specific responsibilities to ensure safety around schools.
“All Local Government Area Chairmen are directed to support the school reopening process within their respective Local Government Areas by ensuring adequate security presence in and around school premises, in collaboration with security agencies,” the Ministry said.
The government disclosed that an official list of schools cleared for reopening would be released on Monday, 12 January 2026, urging parents, teachers, and school managers to comply strictly with all directives.
It concluded, “The Niger State Government appreciates the patience, cooperation, and understanding of parents, school managers, and the general public. The safety of students, teachers, and school communities remains paramount. All stakeholders are enjoined to strictly comply with these directives in the collective interest of peace, safety, and sustainable educational development in Niger State.”
The reopening announcement comes after prolonged school shutdowns across parts of Niger State following a wave of kidnappings and violent attacks targeting schools, a crisis that has affected northern Nigeria in recent years.
In late 2025, Nigeria’s Federal Government temporarily shut forty-one unity schools nationwide, while several state governments, including Niger State, ordered school closures after armed groups abducted hundreds of students and teachers, severely disrupting education.
