Governors of four states in Northern Nigeria have ordered the shutdown of schools during Ramadan—the first suspension of its kind in Nigeria’s history. Authorities in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, and Kebbi States announced that all schools must close for all students, regardless of religious identity.
Whether of Muslim, Christian, or traditional African faiths, students will miss five weeks of learning. The reopening date, 7 April, allows just two weeks to prepare for end of year exams.
Christian leaders, teaching unions, and student bodies have sounded the alarm, amidst fears that the constitutional right to an education is under threat.
The head of Katsina’s Hisbah morality police insisted all private schools must also close, declaring “non-compliance will not be tolerated”.
“It sets a dangerous precedent,” notes Samson Adeyemi, spokesman for the National Association of Nigerian Students. Authorities are “prioritising religious observances over students’ right to education,” he adds.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference warned the directive “raises serious questions about the secular nature of our country and the rights of all citizens.” In a strongly worded letter, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji cited Section 10 of Nigeria’s Constitution: “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.”
Open Doors’ legal expert for Sub Saharan Africa, John Samuel*, agrees.
“This action hugely undermines the principles of a secular state upheld by the constitution of the country,” he shared with Open Doors International.
“Right to education, which guarantees access to education, is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed regardless of student’s religious background. This action of closing school for everyone violates the fundamental right to education and religious freedom of religious minorities.”
Reverend Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), points to grave outcomes for poorer students. Ten million children are already out of school in Nigeria.
“Such prolonged breaks risk deepening this crisis, undermining efforts to ensure access to quality education for all,” Reverend Okoh said. Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia keep schools open with special timetables during Ramadan, he stressed.
Christian Leaders Dubbed ‘Meddlesome Interlopers’
State governors have not yet commented on the shutdown. The Muslim religious group, MURIC, criticised Christian leaders as ‘meddlesome interloper(s)’, arguing the wishes of Muslims in Muslim-majority states must hold sway.
A disturbing pattern of discrimination and extremism has emerged in schools in Northern Nigeria in recent years. Christian leaders are now urging the federal government to intervene, to protect students’ rights to education and religious freedom.
In 2017 and 2022, two public universities in Katsina State placed full bans on Christian worship on campus, whilst allowing Muslim student groups to continue religious activities.
In 2022, Deborah Yakubu, a Christian student, was accused of blasphemy and murdered by male classmates while in Shehu Shagari College—a place where she should have been protected.
Nigeria ranks 7th on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
Pray for Nigeria
- Pray for families and children who cannot attend school due to forced closures, permanent or temporary. Ask God to give them His wisdom and discernment amidst uncertain times.
- Pray for Nigerian leaders to protect the right to an education and religious freedom for all people.
- Current insecurity in Northern Nigeria cosigns millions of children to illiteracy, early marriage, and poverty, allowing for recruitment to violent Islamic extremism. Ask God to protect these children and families and to miraculously provide for their every need.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
