The closure was enforced on Thursday by a joint team that
included officials from the health ministry’s directorate of nursing services
(DNS).

Also involved were the Nursing and Midwifery Committee of
Lagos State and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives
(NANNM) in Lagos.

They were supported by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

During the operation, Femi Ajekigbe, the college director,
was arrested and is currently in custody for questioning and further legal
action by the state.

Speaking to journalists after the closure, Sola Aketi, the
director of nursing services at the Lagos ministry of health, stated that the
institution had been previously notified of the imminent shutdown.

She said an inspection team from the state’s nursing and
midwifery committee had visited the school on January 20 and uncovered several
irregularities.

Aketi said the team reported that the college failed to meet
basic academic and infrastructural requirements for nursing education and, as a
result, lacked accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria
(NMCN).

“As a result of this closure, the illegal institution will
cease all nursing training and educational activities with immediate effect,”
Aketi said.

“We have several of these schools across the state, and we
will not stop until they are all shut down.”

Aketi confirmed that Tower College is one of many
unaccredited institutions operating in Lagos.

She stated that the clampdown would be extended to other
illegal nursing schools, as Lagos would no longer condone “dangerous death
traps.”

Oladapo Olawale, a doctor who led an initial inspection of
the college, had advised the immediate closure of the school.

His report noted that the college “had no demonstration
room, no hospital affiliation for clinical postings, and no hostel
accommodation for students.”

He expressed surprise that some of the students at the
college were shockingly already in their 300-level courses without undergoing
any clinical training and resource verification from the nursing council.

The inspection committee had recommended the immediate
closure of the school, withdrawal of all students, and withdrawal of the
licenses of individuals parading themselves as nursing tutors without approval.

Following this report, the nursing and midwifery committee
of the state and the Lagos ministry of health issued a formal closure notice.

The letter, dated, cited the school’s failure to meet the
minimum standards for accreditation, non-compliance with repeated warnings, and
evidence of substandard training as reasons for the decision.

It noted that these issues posed risks to the health,
safety, and well-being of students and the public.

The premises have been sealed and placed under surveillance
to prevent any further unauthorised operation.