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FCT Primary School Closure Triggers Protest By NANS

Published on July 1, 2025

FCT primary school closure sparks mass protest as NANS demands urgent government action to reopen public schools shut for over two months

The FCT primary school closure has sparked outrage from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which is mobilising a nationwide protest over the prolonged shutdown of public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

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The students’ body describes the closure as a deliberate denial of basic education to thousands of children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, NANS strongly condemned what it called a gross violation of the educational rights of Nigerian children.

The association said schools in the FCT have been shut for over two months, with no decisive action taken by relevant authorities to end the disruption.

“The FCT primary school closure represents a deliberate act of negligence and disregard for our children’s future,” the statement declared.

“Despite multiple appeals, correspondences, and calls for dialogue, the authorities have continued to ignore this worsening crisis.”

With tension rising, NANS has announced a mass protest to take place on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, beginning at 7:00 AM. The meeting point will be the FCDA Secretariat in Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Participants have been directed to wear black attire in what the students’ union describes as a symbolic act of mourning for the “death of basic education” in the capital city.

The FCT primary school closure has, according to NANS, left thousands of pupils stranded and denied their right to learn, thereby deepening inequality in a city that is home to Nigeria’s seat of power.

NANS insists the protest will continue until urgent action is taken.

“We can no longer afford to watch in silence while the government denies our children a future. This is not a political struggle. It is a human rights emergency,” the NANS President said.

The association reiterated its commitment to peaceful demonstration and urged parents, civil society groups, education stakeholders, and media organisations to support the call for justice.

The group also warned that this could set a dangerous precedent for other states if left unchallenged.

“Education is a right, not a privilege,” Oladoja stated. “When the most vulnerable among us are denied this right, we are all diminished. We must rise and demand that these schools be reopened without delay.”

The FCT primary school closure has drawn growing public criticism. Many have questioned why the federal government has not intervened more directly.

Observers say the situation underscores broader issues in Nigeria’s basic education sector, including chronic underfunding, teacher welfare neglect, and administrative gridlock.

Some Abuja parents have taken to social media to express their frustration, sharing photos of their children at home and calling on policymakers to end what they describe as an avoidable educational breakdown.

A parent, Fatima Lawal, lamented, “My children have not seen a classroom since April. We are being failed by the very people meant to protect our future.”

While the government has yet to issue an official response, pressure continues to mount as the date of the protest draws nearer.

Analysts note that the decision by NANS to stage such a protest in the nation’s capital, and with symbolic mourning clothes, underscores the seriousness of their grievances.

The FCT primary school closure remains a flashpoint, and unless resolved swiftly, the situation could escalate into a broader crisis affecting other levels of the education system.