The Federal Government has imposed a five-year ban on the creation of new federal tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The decision, approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, is aimed at curbing the proliferation of poorly resourced schools and reversing the decline in educational standards.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said Nigeria’s challenge is no longer access to federal tertiary education but the duplication of institutions, which has overstretched infrastructure and manpower.

“In our country, access to quality financial education is no longer an issue,” the minister said.

“What we are witnessing today is duplication of new federal tertiary institutions, a significant reduction in the current capacity of each institution, and degradation of both physical infrastructure and manpower.

“If we do not act decisively, it will lead to marked declines in educational quality and undermine the international respect that Nigerian graduates command.”

Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 108 state universities, and 159 private universities, alongside hundreds of polytechnics and colleges of education. Yet, according to the minister, recent admission figures show that many operate far below capacity. For the 2024–2026 academic sessions, 199 universities recorded fewer than 99 applicants, while 34 had none at all. Similar trends were seen in polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa cited an example of a northern federal university that had fewer than 800 students but over 1,200 staff members — a ratio he described as “unsustainable.”

The minister said the moratorium will enable the government to channel resources toward upgrading existing institutions, improving infrastructure, and increasing their capacity, so Nigerian graduates can continue to command global respect.