Rising Costs and Insecurity Are Pushing Nigerian Children Out of School
A private school in Ojodu, Lagos, has announced its permanent closure after more than 30 years of operation, citing the rising cost of running the school. The closure has renewed concern about how inflation and falling household incomes are affecting private education. Inflation rose to 15.93% in May 2026, according to figures cited from the National Bureau of Statistics. Higher food, transport and utility costs are putting schools under pressure, while many parents are struggling to pay fees or keep their children enrolled. Educators had warned as far back as 2024 that more private schools could shut down without support. The problem is compounded by insecurity and the poor state of many public schools. Recent school abductions have heightened parents’ safety concerns, while Nigeria’s 2026 education allocation of ₦3.52 trillion, or 6.1% of the federal budget, remains far below UNESCO’s recommended benchmark. With over 18 million children out of school, families are increasingly caught between unaffordable private schools, unsafe environments and overstretched public classrooms.
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