Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Sparks Outrage With Ban on Male-Female Interactions During Ramadan

The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, has ignited national controversy after issuing a directive restricting social interactions between male and female students during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

According to a circular dated February 25, 2026, and signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Alh. Kamisu Salihu, the institution prohibited male and female students from “standing together in couples” on campus. The notice warned that any students violating the policy would be subjected to an immediate arranged Nikkah (Islamic marriage), with the parties responsible for funding their own Walima (wedding feast). Students were urged to “respect the sanctity of the Polytechnic and avoid unnecessary closeness.”

The directive has drawn swift condemnation nationwide. Human rights activists and social commentators have criticized the policy as an overreach of religious authority in a federal institution, arguing that it conflicts with the secular nature of Nigeria’s educational system and infringes on students’ rights to freedom of association.

On platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), critics likened the policy to “Taliban-style” governance and raised concerns about the perceived Islamization of government-owned higher education institutions. The backlash has also amplified broader discussions on religious extremism and the implementation of Sharia-influenced codes in Northern Nigeria.