By Samuel Adeola
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved a five-year ban on establishing new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the decision aims to curb the “duplication” of institutions, which has weakened infrastructure, manpower, and overall quality.
“In our country, access to quality tertiary education is no longer an issue,” Alausa stated. “What we are witnessing today is duplication and degradation of both physical infrastructure and manpower.”
Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 108 state universities, and 159 private universities, in addition to hundreds of polytechnics and colleges.
However, many operate far below capacity, with some recording fewer than 99 applicants and others none at all.
A federal university in the North reportedly has under 800 students but more than 1,200 staff.
Alausa explained that the government will now prioritise upgrading existing institutions, improving facilities, and strengthening staff capacity to enhance standards.
The council also approved nine new private universities, part of a backlog of applications, some pending for more than six years.
Over 350 inactive applications have been scrapped, leaving 79 active ones.
The moratorium will also apply to new private institutions unless they meet stricter requirements.
“If we do not act now, graduate unemployment will rise and the value of our graduates will drop,” the minister warned, adding that the reforms are designed to protect the global respect Nigerian education enjoys.