Nigerian authorities on Thursday ordered all universities to close for nearly three weeks ahead of this month’s presidential election, citing security concerns.
The National Commission on Universities said that “expressed concerns about the safety of the staff, students and property of our respective institutions” were a factor in the decision, in a letter to the universities signed by Chris Maiyaki, its deputy executive secretary.
On February 25, Nigerians will elect a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as state governors and legislators. An unprecedented 94 million are registered to vote.
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The decision to close the country’s more than 200 universities from February 22 to March 14 followed “extensive consultations with relevant security agencies,” Maiyaki said.
Nigerian universities were ordered to close in the weeks leading up to an election in which up to 94 million residents can vote.
Nigeria is battling various armed groups in the northwest and southeast, while overstretched security forces continue to battle decade-long extremist violence in the northeast. In recent years, gunmen have attacked universities in the troubled northern region, with hundreds of students kidnapped and later released, sometimes for ransom.
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In addition to ensuring student safety, the university closure will also allow students enrolled in colleges in other parts of the country to return to where they are registered to vote, Haruna Lawal Ajo, director of public affairs for the commission, told The Associated Press. university. . Nigerian electoral law does not allow people to vote outside of where they are registered.
With students making up 28% of the electorate, the planned shutdown could boost turnout on Election Day that has been low in previous voting. Only 34% of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2019 presidential election, the lowest turnout since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
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“Most of the students are over 18 years of age and have a voting card, they can exercise their civic rights,” said Ajo.
