Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has approved a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The decision, announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, is a response to the proliferation of under-utilised institutions and a decline in academic quality.
The minister stated that many existing institutions are operating well below capacity, with some universities having more staff than students. He cited data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board showing that 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications last year, with 34 receiving none at all. Similarly, numerous polytechnics and colleges of education recorded poor enrolment figures.
According to Mr. Alausa, the moratorium will allow the government to focus on upgrading existing infrastructure, hiring qualified staff, and expanding the capacity of current institutions. He warned that the unchecked establishment of new schools risks producing ill-prepared graduates and devaluing Nigerian degrees on the international stage.
The Federal Executive Council, which approved the freeze, did, however, greenlight nine new private universities whose applications had been pending for up to six years. The minister clarified that these applications had undergone a full evaluation by the National Universities Commission before the moratorium was put in place.
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