The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an expansion of its suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates beyond Benin Republic and Togo to include countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and the Niger Republic.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Mamman emphasised that the government’s actions would not be limited to just Benin and Togo.
He asserted, “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo; we are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, and even Niger, where such institutions have been set up.”
The decision came after an undercover journalist exposed how easily he obtained a degree from a university in the Benin Republic within two months and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Following this revelation, the Federal Government promptly suspended the accreditation of certificates from both Benin and Togo, initiating a comprehensive investigation expected to conclude within three months.
Mamman expressed a lack of sympathy for individuals who enrol in such institutions, branding them as part of a criminal chain rather than victims.
He stated unequivocally, “I have no sympathy for such people. Instead, they are part of the criminal chain that should be arrested.”
Furthermore, the minister highlighted that security agencies would pursue individuals utilising fake foreign certificates to gain opportunities in Nigeria.
