Christian leaders have condemned the decision by Muslim governors of four northern Nigeria states to close all schools for five weeks due to Ramadan.
The decision to close all public and private schools in the states of Bauch, Katina, Kano and Kevi further erodes the already-interrupted education system and threatens the unity of the people, Christian leaders said. Archbishop Daniel (CAN) of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said at a press conference where people could be concerned about the closure of all schools for up to five weeks to fast Ramadan from late February to early April.
“While the can is dedicated to promoting faith-mediated harmony, we cannot overlook the potential violations of the rights of students and families who do not observe Ramadan, or the dangerous signals this will send for fair governance,” Okoh said. “Policies affecting diverse groups, including Muslims and Christians, require transparent and comprehensive dialogue with parents, educators, religious leaders and school owners.
Even countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where Islam is central and Ramadan is deeply respected, will not close schools during fasting, he pointed out.
“Instead, they adapt their schedules that provide education and flexibility, and balance education and religious practice,” he said. “If these Islamic centres can maintain this balance, the northern part of Nigeria should strive for similar pragmatism.
Governors Bala Mohammed, Dikko Umar Radha, Aba Kabir Yusuf and Nasir Idris have reevaluated these instructions, reevaluate comprehensive solutions and demanded open channels of dialogue with key stakeholders to interact with key stakeholders in order to pursue comprehensive solutions, he said.
“The education of our children and unity of our nation are ready for the cans to seek legal action if these rights face even more risk,” he said.
“Our pursuit of peace does not diminish our commitment to justice,” O’Cau said. “As Nigerians, we build a society where faith and progress are harmonized, where children’s education is uncompromising, and we encourage all communities to rethink these policies in a spirit of equity and national unity.”
The four states that close all schools in Ramadan already face an astonishing rate of children outside of schools, far exceeding the national average at an average of 44%, he said, adding that such long breaks risk deepening this crisis and undermine efforts to ensure access to quality education for all.
The apparent lack of extensive consultations at Bauch, Kachina, Kano and Kebby before the order was troubling. The leadership of these states said they were not consulted despite allegations of stakeholder involvement.
In the directive, Kebbi State ordered the closure of all schools, including Christian-owned schools, from March 1st to April 7th.
“The closure of schools is to enable Muslims to observe fasting, engage in prayer and carry out other religious duties related to Ramadan,” a spokesman for Ahmed Idris, the office of Governor Kevi, told Christian Daily International Morning Star News. “The state government is urging all education to strictly adhere to this directive or be approved.”
In Kano State, the government closed all schools from February 28th to April 6th.
“All educational institutions must comply with the closure order,” Ballarabé Kill, director of public awareness at Kano State Department of Education, said at a press conference.
Bauch State closed schools from March 1st to April 5th.
The Nigerian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CBCN) also expressed concern, saying the closure raised serious questions about Nigeria’s secular status and the rights of all citizens.
The closure will put the education and future of millions of Nigerian children in Nigeria at risk, Pastor Lucius Ugolji and Pastor Donatus A. Ogun, president and secretary of the Nigerian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, respectively, said in a press statement.
“As stated in Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, “the federal government or government of a state will not adopt religion as the religion of a state,” they said. “This provision highlights the secular nature of our country and ensures that all citizens have the freedom to practice their faith without hindering it.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26) and the International Contract on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 13) state the right to education as a fundamental human right, they said.
“The long-term closure of schools undermines this right and puts the education and future of millions of Nigerian children at risk,” the church leader said. “We have already had children who are unstable because, according to UNESCO, this decision has the most out-of-school children in the world and this decision only exacerbates this crisis and this decision has not been born.
They urged the governor to review the decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.
“We pray that our leaders will prioritize the education and happiness of all children in Nigeria, regardless of their faith or background, and work to create a more just and equitable society for all,” the leader said.
Nigeria ranked 7th in the 2025 WWL list of 50 worst countries for Christians.
