The Federal Ministry of Education has denied reports circulating on social media that schools across Nigeria will be shut down from Monday, November 24, 2025.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, described the viral message as “false, misleading, and not originating from the Federal Government.”

She stressed that no directive had been issued for a nationwide closure of schools, urging the public to disregard the claims and avoid spreading unverified information.

“The Federal Ministry of Education hereby informs the general public that a message currently circulating on social media platforms, alleging that schools nationwide have been directed to close from 24th November 2025, is false, misleading, and did not originate from the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, any State Ministry of Education or any recognized security agency,” the statement read.

Ministry Urges Public to Verify Information

Boriowo advised Nigerians to rely strictly on verified information issued through official channels of the ministry and other government agencies.

“Any announcement, advisory, or notice coming from unofficial or unverified sources should be ignored and not shared. Members of the public are urged to always verify the authenticity of information before circulating it in order to curb the spread of misinformation,” she added.

The clarification comes amid heightened public anxiety following recent school closures in some states due to security concerns.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to keeping schools open and safe, while working with security agencies to monitor developments across the country.

States Shutting Schools Amid Islamist Attacks

However, several state governments have ordered the closure of state schools under their jurisdiction on the heels of rising security threats across the country, with two mass abductions of students taking place in recent days.

In Niger State, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri on Friday, abducting hundreds of students and teachers. Witnesses said the attackers rode over 60 motorcycles and shot the school’s gatekeeper, who sustained serious injuries.

Before that, assailants seized 25 schoolgirls during an attack on a school in Maga town, Kebbi State.

The surge in attacks has prompted several states to take precautionary measures. On November 20, Kwara State directed the closure of schools across four Local Government Areas following escalating insecurity.

A day later, Katsina State ordered the immediate shutdown of public schools, citing threats in neighboring communities. Plateau State also announced the closure of basic schools across the state, describing the move as temporary but necessary to adopt new security measures.

Meanwhile, rumors of abductions in Nasarawa were quickly dismissed. The Nasarawa State Police Command described reports that two pupils were taken from St. Peter’s Academy in Rukubi as “false and not reflective of the true state of affairs.”

In response to the escalating threats, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi to oversee rescue operations. Tinubu also postponed his planned trips to Johannesburg and Angola.

Renewed Wave of School Attacks

The renewed abduction of students is the latest in a series of kidnappings in learning institutions, dating back to 2014 when students were taken away in Chibok, Borno State.

Since then, mass abductions have continued across northern Nigeria, with schools repeatedly targeted by Islamist militants and bandits.

Global bodies, including UNICEF, have condemned the kidnapping of students, urging Nigerian authorities to prioritize the safety of learners.

Governors of northern states under the Northern States Governors’ Forum have expressed deep distress, describing the attacks as unacceptable affronts to education and child safety.

Civil society organizations have also accused the government of weak political will and failing security leadership.

The state‑level shutdowns in Kwara, Katsina, and Plateau, underscore the scale of Nigeria’s education crisis.

With schools shuttered across multiple regions, parents and communities are not only anxious about the absence of learning, but what the future holds for them and their families.

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