National Universities Commission (NUC) has banned satellite campuses operated by private universities in the country.
Under the new directive, proposed institutions will no longer be permitted to establish multi-campuses in different states of the federation. The commission stressed that no private university will be allowed to run transnational education programmes across national borders without its explicit approval.
The NUC urged all applicants and proprietors of private universities to act promptly and ensure full compliance with the new regulations, warning that appropriate sanctions would be applied against any institution found in violation of the directive.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has also issued fresh directives to all applicants seeking to establish private universities in Nigeria to settle outstanding payments within 30 working days or risk losing their pending applications.
The announcement was contained in a statement published on the Commission’s website, titled “Revised Guidelines and Criteria on the Establishment of Private Universities in Nigeria,” and signed by the Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu.
The new guidelines follow the moratorium on the establishment of private universities earlier declared by the Commission on February 10, 2025.
LEADERSHIP earlier reported that, NUC had announced a comprehensive review of the criteria for licensing private universities, stressing the need to reposition them to meet the demands of 21st-century higher education.
The latest release marks the first set of ministerial directives to streamline the process and tighten oversight of the sector.
According to the revised regulations, proprietors of all pending applications that have not yet undergone NUC Management approval and onward transmission to the Minister of Education must pay a reviewed non-refundable processing fee of N25 million within 30 working days.
Those who had earlier paid the previous fee of N5 million are now required to pay an additional N20 million within the same period. Failure to comply, the Commission warned, would lead to the automatic lapse of such applications.
“Proprietors of all Pending Active Applications for establishment of private universities in Nigeria yet to undergo NUC Management Approval and onward transmission to Honourable Minister of Education are required to pay the non-refundable reviewed Processing Fee of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) within 30-working days from the date of this Advertorial, failing which their Applications shall lapse.
“Applicants that paid the old Processing Fee of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) are now required to pay the balance of non-refundable fee of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) within the specified time frame or face the same fate.”
The guidelines also introduce strict timelines for verification visits. Applicants awaiting their first verification must formally request the exercise within 90 days of payment confirmation, while those preparing for a second verification have 180 days to do so.
Where an institution fails a second verification, it may apply for a confirmation visit within 180 days, but only after paying an additional processing fee of N10 million. Applications that fail to meet these deadlines will automatically be cancelled.
Beyond application timelines, the Commission also underscored operational requirements for licensed institutions. Private universities are now mandated to relocate to their permanent sites at the end of their first phase of development, typically after five years. This measure, NUC noted, is to ensure that universities deliver quality education within purpose-built environments rather than relying indefinitely on temporary campuses.
“Timelines within which to Request for Verification Visits: Upon confirmation of payment of Processing Fee: Proprietors of Pending Active Applications awaiting First Verification Visit have 90 days from the date of payment to formerly request for the First Verification Visit, failing which their Applications shall lapse.
“Proprietors of Pending Active Applications awaiting Second Verification Visit have 180 days from the date of the First Verification Visit or the date of payment of balance of Processing Fee within which to request for the Second Verification Visit, failing which the Applications shall lapse,” it stated.
It further stressed that the reforms were designed to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s university system, while also providing clear and enforceable timelines for stakeholders. “Applicants are advised to act promptly to avoid undue delay and eventual cancellation of their applications,” the statement noted.
