116 Year-Old King’s College Lagos Shut, Resumption Uncertain As Bickering Over Concession Degenerates

● Founded in 1909, King’s College has produced presidents, judges, CEOs and global scholars. Here’s why it’s fate is hanging in the balance after Nigeria Government ordered its immediate handover

Lagos — Nigeria’s most prestigious secondary school is in turmoil. King’s College, Lagos, the 116-year-old “Eko Boys’ College,” was shut down by its staff union on Tuesday after the Nigerian Government ordered its immediate handover to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, KCOBA.

The shutdown has thrown the planned resumption of students on Sunday into chaos, with parents scrambling for answers and the Parent-Teacher Association saying a final decision on reopening will come by Thursday.

In a letter dated September 4, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that the concession process had been completed. Signed by Dr. O. P. Olasoju-David, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the letter stated: “Following the conclusion of all necessary processes up to the signing of the Concession Agreement, King’s College, Lagos has been concessioned to King’s College Old Boys’ Association.”

The ministry directed that the handover begin “with immediate effect” and that a Transition Committee be constituted. The timeline is tight: six months. After that, federal funding stops.
“The transition committee is to ensure a seamless transition of the college management to KCOBA within six months, after which funding of the college from Federation Account will be stopped,” the letter read.

The ministry also instructed the principal to submit a list of staff willing to remain under the Federal Civil Service Commission, signaling that not all current workers will automatically move with the school.

The directive sparked immediate resistance. Speaking on Tuesday, King’s College PTA Chairman, Peter Oluwaleye, said parents were briefed at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on Monday after the letter arrived. Hours later, the staff union locked the gates.
“The staff union has declared an immediate shutdown of the college. No more entrance and exit,” Oluwaleye said.

With resumption scheduled for Sunday, uncertainty now hangs over thousands of students. “Between today and Thursday, we will let all parents know if the school can be reopened for Sunday resumption or not,” he added.

The PTA advised parents to keep preparing their children but to hold off on buying perishable back-to-school items until there is clarity. For many families, the timing could not be worse.

The core of the parents’ anger is broken expectations. “Our children got admitted into KC as a unity school. They should have been allowed to graduate under the same terms,” Oluwaleye argued. To them, King’s College was sold to them as a Federal Government institution, not an alumni-run project.

He also questioned the logic of a six-month transition for a school with students who have years left to graduate. “Now the letter stipulated a period of six months. Six months to do what? Six months to hand over. Why will it be only six months when we have some of our students that I just admitted; they have five, six years to graduate?” he asked.

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Beyond logistics, the PTA faulted the Federal Government for what it called poor consultation. Parents say they were not carried along in a decision that affects the future, fees, and identity of the institution their children entered.

Founded in 1909, King’s College has produced presidents, judges, CEOs and global scholars. Now, after 116 years under federal control, its fate rests with its old boys. Whether KCOBA can keep the academic standard, staff morale, and affordability intact in six months will determine if this historic handover becomes a model — or a cautionary tale — for Nigeria’s unity schools.

NOP NIGERIA