FG: Over 22,700 Nigerians parading fake degree certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

The federal government says over 22,700 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo.

Tahir Mamman, the education minister, spoke in Abuja on Friday during a press conference marking his one year in office.

In January 2024, the federal government inaugurated a committee to probe private universities established in the last 15 years.

The committee, headed by Jibrin Amin, a former vice chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, was also mandated to investigate degree certificate racketeering by foreign and local universities in Nigeria.

Mamman said the committee submitted a report to the federal executive council (FEC) in July with recommendations for a reform.

He said about 22,789 Nigerians are parading fake degree certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo between 2019 and 2023.

“We have had to take some major decisions here (at the ministry of education). Some staff members who were affected faced disciplinary measures. That whole unit had to undergo a review,” the minister said.

“We cannot have in our midst people who procured fake certificates competing with students who graduated from universities and polytechnics through their sweat, some spending four, five, six or more years.

“They cannot be going out to compete with people who procured certificates right here in Nigeria without going anywhere.

“Through the data the NYSC has, about 21,684 students are parading fake certificates from Benin Republic obtained between 2019 to 2023, Togo about 1,105. They simply attended schools that are not recognised to offer degree programmes by those countries.”

In late 2023, an investigative report exposed a booming certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic and Togo that specialises in selling university degrees to willing buyers in Nigeria.

In the investigation, a reporter obtained a backdated university degree certificate from Cotonou within six weeks without leaving Nigeria.

The reporter proceeded to use the fake certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme without detection.

The investigation showed how racketeering agents in Nigeria connive with the management of illegal university campuses in Cotonou.

Reporting by Stephen Kenechi and Kunle Daramola.