The Traffic

FG Moves to Clamp Down on Illegal Satellite Campuses in Federal Tertiary Institutions

By Achimi muktar 

The Federal Government has drawn a red line—Federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education operating unauthorized satellite campuses across Nigeria are now in danger of facing stiff sanctions.

This was revealed in a stern memo signed by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and dated May 30, 2025. The directive, sent to the heads of Nigeria’s top education regulatory agencies—the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)—warns that the proliferation of unapproved campuses will no longer be tolerated.

“Rather than focusing on improving existing campuses, some Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts are diverting limited resources to set up inadequately equipped new Satellite campuses,” Dr. Alausa stated, citing the trend as “detrimental to educational standards.”

According to the Ministry, these unauthorized campuses often lack the basic infrastructure, staffing, and academic structure required to operate, leading to a decline in the quality and credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary education.

Satellite campuses are meant to expand access to higher education by creating learning centers in different geographical areas. However, when set up without proper approval from relevant authorities, they are considered illegal—and dangerous to the future of students and institutions alike.

The directive calls for an immediate halt to the establishment of new satellite campuses without express ministerial approval. Regulatory bodies have been tasked with disseminating this instruction to all Federal institutions under their supervision.

“Any institution that goes ahead to establish unapproved campuses will face serious disciplinary action,” the Minister warned.

Adding to the urgency, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has raised concerns about foreign institutions using satellite campuses within Nigeria to issue unrecognized degrees. Former NYSC DG, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, revealed that such operations jeopardize the credibility of certificates and complicate national service eligibility for unsuspecting graduates.

“These agents running illegal affiliate campuses with foreign accreditation are harming our educational integrity,” the NYSC warned.

No New Campuses Without Approval: All federal institutions must now seek approval from the Minister via the NUC, NBTE, or NCCE before creating satellite campuses.

Regulatory Crackdown Imminent: Institutions in violation face stiff penalties and possible closure of unauthorized campuses.

Student Alert: Prospective students are advised to verify the accreditation status of any satellite campus before enrolling.

Nigeria’s tertiary education system is already grappling with infrastructure decay, overcrowded classrooms, and quality assurance issues. The unchecked spread of unauthorized campuses risks worsening an already fragile system, diluting standards, and producing graduates whose degrees may not hold weight—either nationally or internationally.

This latest move by the FG signals a renewed push for educational reform and a clear message to institutions: quality over quantity.