The Katsina State Government has ordered the immediate closure of several private tertiary institutions found to be operating without proper accreditation or licenses from regulatory bodies.

The Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Muhammad Isah Kankara, disclosed this during the state’s 2026 pre-budget defence session in Katsina.

Kankara explained that investigations carried out by the ministry revealed that a number of private tertiary schools in the state had been running without official approval and had failed to meet the minimum national standards.

“Our findings show that several of these private tertiary institutions have been operating without approval from relevant regulatory bodies,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that the decision to shut down the schools was necessary to protect students from substandard education and to uphold the integrity of tertiary education in the state.

While defending the ministry’s decision, Kankara admitted that the closure would have financial implications for the state, particularly in reducing its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for 2026.

According to him, many of the institutions affected by the clampdown had previously contributed significantly to the ministry’s income.

“We are aware that this move will affect the ministry’s revenue for the coming year. The expected income from tertiary education will drop significantly in 2026 because most of these institutions had been paying into the system,” he said.

Kankara, however, maintained that the government’s priority was the welfare of students and the provision of quality education, insisting that financial losses could not be weighed above the future of young people.

He assured that the government would continue to monitor all private and public tertiary institutions in the state to ensure full compliance with regulatory standards.

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