Sokoto State closes schools outside metropolis due to security directive

The Sokoto State Government has implemented a security-driven directive to keep schools located outside the Sokoto metropolis closed. Professor Muhammad Ladan Ala, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, stated that the decision aligns with a Federal Government directive aimed at ensuring student safety. Currently, only schools within the metropolis—covering Kware, Dange-Shuni, Wamakko, Sokoto North, and Sokoto South Local Government Areas—are operational.

To bolster security, the Ministry is collaborating with the police, the DSS, School Based Management Committees, PTAs, and local vigilante groups. These efforts focus on providing surveillance, particularly for students commuting from rural villages.

As the 2026/2027 academic session begins, education officials have also called on school principals to maintain high standards of monitoring and dedication. The state government reported an 85 per cent success rate in recent WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB examinations and expressed goals to rank among Nigeria’s top five states for educational performance.