Abuja
Abuja: Schools Rush Exams Amid Parents’ Growing Fears Over Insecurity
Abuja: Schools Rush Exams Amid Parents’ Growing Fears Over Insecurity
Abuja: Schools rush exams amid parents’ growing fears over insecurity. Schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have hurriedly concluded their end-of-term examinations as rising insecurity fuels anxiety among parents, teachers, and administrators.
Over the past few weeks, several schools, both public and private have quietly revised their academic calendars, compressing examination schedules to allow children to go home earlier than planned.
What would typically span full weeks has been forced into a few intense days marked by tension and uncertainty, media has gathered.
Across districts such as Garki, Lugbe and Kubwa, teachers confirmed that examinations were fast-tracked in response to what many described as a climate of fear heightened by recent security incidents in neighbouring states.
Parents, increasingly alarmed by reports of kidnappings and attacks, have been pressing schools to shorten the term and release children ahead of time.
Teachers who spoke in an interview with media said the pressure to conclude examinations and close the term early swiftly created a tense but manageable environment over fear of the unknown.
Many had to administer multiple papers within short intervals, sometimes on the same day, to meet the adjusted deadlines.
Lessons that had been carefully planned for assessments were condensed, raising concerns among education stakeholders about the impact on learning outcomes.
However, most stakeholders concede that safety remains the priority, arguing that academic quality, can be revisited lives cannot be replaced.
The situation was further complicated on 7 December 2025, when a memo began circulating on social media claiming that several schools in Abuja, public and private, had been ordered to shut down immediately for “non-compliance” with unspecified directives.
The memo, which spread rapidly among parents’ WhatsApp groups, intensified panic as many rushed to pick up their children even before schools issued official communication.
By evening, the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and other relevant agencies released clarifications, but these only added to the confusion.
While some officials insisted that no blanket order for immediate closure had been issued, others suggested that a few schools violating operational guidelines had indeed been instructed to shut their doors temporarily.
The conflicting statements frustrated parents, many of whom criticised authorities for fueling fear through poor communication.
This heightened tension comes barely a month after the widely reported abduction of schoolchildren from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
In what has been described as one of the largest school kidnappings in recent Nigerian history, dozens of pupils and some teachers were taken by armed men, drawing global condemnation and renewed questions about the country’s security architecture.
Although security agencies recently rescued 100 of the abducted children, bringing relief to many families, the situation remains dire as dozens of other children and educators are still believed to be in captivity.
The partial release has done little to calm the nerves of parents in the FCT, who fear that similar incidents could be replicated closer to home. For many, the Papiri incident is a grim reminder of the vulnerability of school communities in the face of rising banditry and violent crime.
FCT, Abuja
Compounding the concerns is the prolonged closure of about 41 Federal Unity Colleges across the country. These schools, initially shut for security reasons, have yet to reopen, disrupting their academic calendar and causing parents to question why the government has not hastened efforts to restore safe learning conditions.
The extended closure has widened the academic gap between Unity Colleges and other institutions that are still struggling to complete their terms, albeit under pressure.
Speaking on the situation, an Abuja-based private school teacher, Mr Isaac Moji, said his school completed examinations the previous week and is preparing to vacate earlier than scheduled.
“Our school finished examinations last week, and we are due to go on vacation this week. Although nothing has been officially communicated, most of the schools in the FCT are rushing to close because of fear of the unknown,” he said.
Mr Moji, who is also a parent, noted that the school his children attend in Nyanya had already closed earlier than expected.
“In Nyanya where my children are schooling, they vacated since last week. Many parents are uncomfortable, and schools don’t want to take chances. We just hope the government restores confidence before schools resume in 2026.”
IGP Attends RHI Financial Support Presentation for Families of Fallen Heroes by First Lady
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, today, 27th August 2026, attended the presentation of financial support to the families of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force. Organized by the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Social Investment Programme, the event took place at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Eereporter.com
This second edition of the initiative targeted families of security personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. In total, one thousand six-hundred and thirty-eight (1,638) families of deceased police officers received financial empowerment packages designed to help rebuild their livelihoods and cater to their dependents.
The ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Her Excellency, Hajia Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President; Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Wife of the Senate President; along with Service Chiefs and the President of POWA alongside wives of heads of security agencies.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces, IGP Disu expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady for the intervention, describing it as a profound demonstration of national gratitude and compassion.
The IGP noted that the Renewed Hope Initiative goes beyond just policy, it is about restoring dignity and standing with our citizens at their most vulnerable moments. Addressing the bereaved families, he assured them that the supreme sacrifices of their loved ones would never be forgotten by a grateful nation.
First Lady, IGP
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its unwavering commitment to prioritizing the welfare of its personnel and providing continuous support to the families of its departed heroes.
CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
27th August , 2026
Eereporter.com
CAS Commends Financial Support for Families of Fallen Heroes by First Lady
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on Thursday, 27 August 2026, joined other senior military and security leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the 2nd Edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Presentation of Financial Support to Widows of Fallen Heroes of the Armed Forces and Police.
Eereporter.com
Organised by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the RHI Social Investment Programme, the initiative provides financial support to families of personnel who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
First Lady, NAF
The CAS commended the gesture, noting that continued support for the families of fallen heroes reflects the nation’s appreciation of their sacrifices and reinforces the commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of those they left behind.
Eereporter.com
Shaping The Battlespace Beyong the Battlefield by Using Strategic Communication
Strategic communication. In contemporary counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, kinetic action delivers immense tactical effects, while the non-kinetic dimension, accounting for over 75% of the conditions that contribute to sustainable success, provides the foundation for achieving enduring outcomes.
Eereporter.com
Strategic communication is a key enabler within this dimension, helping to build public confidence, strengthen legitimacy, amplify credible information, foster community support and shape perceptions.
Against this backdrop, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, engaged participants of the Air War Course 12/2026 at the Air Force War College Nigeria, Makurdi, on the importance of communication in contemporary military operations.
The engagement reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s investment in developing professionally competent, strategically minded and operationally ready commanders capable of harnessing the full spectrum of airpower and non-kinetic capabilities in pursuit of national security objectives.
Air Force War College
Participants explored how strategic communication, when synchronised with operations, intelligence, civil-military engagement and other mission enablers, can enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen public trust and reinforce strategic advantage. As emphasised during the engagement, “truth, speed and trust are combat multipliers, but credibility is the scarce strategic resource.”
The NAF remains committed to equipping its commanders with the knowledge and capabilities required to deliver decisive effects across the physical and information battlespaces.
Eereporter.com
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