Education ministry says only verified directives from official channels should be trusted.
The Federal Government has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that schools across the country have been directed to shut down over rising insecurity.
The clarification comes amid renewed concerns following a series of mass abductions of schoolchildren in the North-West and North-Central, including two major incidents recorded last week. In response to those attacks, the government had ordered a temporary shutdown of 44 Unity Colleges, while Niger State took the step of closing all primary and secondary schools as a precaution.
However, a message widely shared online claimed that the Federal Government had ordered a nationwide closure of schools from November 24, a report officials say is completely untrue.
Speaking on Sunday, Boriowo Folasade, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, described the circulating notice as “false and misleading,” insisting that the information did not originate from the Federal Government, the ministry, or any other recognised education authority.
She warned the public against relying on unofficial sources for sensitive security-related 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 recognised security agency,” the ministry said.
The statement urged citizens to depend strictly on verified announcements issued through official channels, including the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, state ministries of education and recognised security agencies.
It also cautioned against sharing unverified advisories, stressing that such misinformation can cause unnecessary panic.
“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,” the ministry added.
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