The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, has stirred controversy after issuing a directive barring male and female students from standing together on campus during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a circular dated February 25, 2026, and signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Alhaji Kamisu Salihu, the institution warned that any students found flouting the order risk being subjected to an immediate arranged Islamic marriage (Nikkah). The circular stated that during Ramadan, “standing together in couple (boy & girl) is strictly prohibited.”
The notice urged students to respect the sanctity of the polytechnic environment and avoid what it described as unnecessary closeness. It further stated that any couple compelled into marriage under the directive would be responsible for funding their own wedding feast (Walima).
The policy, now widely described as the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi instant marriage threat, has triggered backlash on social media, with critics arguing that the measure amounts to enforcing religious conduct within a federal institution. Some commentators also questioned the legality of compelling students into marriage as a disciplinary measure.
As reactions continue to trail the development, the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi instant marriage threat has reignited debate over the balance between religious observance and students’ personal freedoms in public tertiary institutions. Many observers say the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi instant marriage threat could set a troubling precedent if not reviewed by the authorities.