Wike Furious as FCT Officials Shut Down Schools Without Approval, Vows ‘Heads Will Roll’

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the unauthorized shutdown of schools in Abuja, calling the decision reckless and warning that senior officials responsible will face disciplinary action.

Wike, visibly angered by the development, said he first learned of the directive through a television news ticker on Tuesday night. He told journalists on Wednesday that no one in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had the authority to close schools without clearance from his office — not even himself without presidential approval.

According to a statement signed by Rabi Musa Umar, Assistant Director of Press in the Minister’s office, Wike said a circular had been secretly issued to schools without his knowledge.
“I was shocked when I saw the news scroll that schools had been shut down. I called the Mandate Secretary of Education, but he had no explanation. How can such a decision be taken without the head of the administration knowing?” he said.

He added that security agencies were already working to maintain safety in the capital, stressing that the unauthorized directive created confusion and unnecessary panic.
“It’s unfortunate. Heads have to roll. We will not spare anyone involved,” Wike warned.

The Minister confirmed that Directors linked to the decision would be sanctioned and disclosed that the Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, had already been placed on indefinite suspension.

During his inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Guzape II District, Wike said the FCT was prioritising the completion of long-abandoned developments to accelerate the city’s growth. Many of the current projects, he noted, were first awarded years before the Tinubu administration took office in 2023.

He also revealed that the Federal Executive Council had approved new work in Maitama II, another stalled project, and assured that residents affected by construction would receive compensation and relocation assistance in line with FCT policy.