The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised an unauthorised circular that told schools in Abuja to close, calling it a dangerous and embarrassing mistake.
According to a report by Punch on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Wike said he first learned about the supposed directive while watching television, where he saw a news scroll saying the FCT had asked all schools to shut down. He explained that he was shocked because he never approved such a decision and would never take an action that serious without first informing the President.
According to him, there is no security threat in the FCT that is severe enough to justify closing schools. To be sure, he immediately contacted the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the SSS. Both officials confirmed that the issue was not discussed in any security briefing.
Wike also reached out to the Mandate Secretary for Education, who said he knew nothing about the circular. The minister expressed disbelief that officials went ahead to send out such an important message “in anticipation,” without consulting anyone responsible for security or administration.
He stressed that the FCT cannot be sending out wrong signals to the public, especially when nearby states facing security challenges have not shut down their schools. Wike added that parents and school administrators should remain calm because security agencies are fully on ground.
The FCT administration later confirmed that the circular was fake. The Education Secretary was suspended immediately, and the director who issued the memo will face disciplinary action according to civil service rules.
In his words, “I was watching television last night when I saw a scroll claiming FCT had ordered schools to close. I couldn’t believe it.”
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