The Federal Government has announced a sweeping overhaul of its Safe Schools architecture, pledging tighter coordination with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the deployment of technology-driven response systems to shield students from rising security threats.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the declaration during an official visit to the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, in Abuja on Wednesday, where both institutions reviewed national school protection strategies amid lingering concerns over student abductions and attacks on learning facilities.
Alausa delivered a firm message: Nigeria will adopt a zero-tolerance stance toward assaults on educational institutions.
“Attacks on schools are unacceptable. We must move beyond reactive responses to a sustained, preventive security presence particularly in vulnerable communities,” the minister said. “Our children must remain safe in school, and this administration is committed to providing the structure and resources necessary to ensure uninterrupted learning.”
A Structural Shift in School Protection
Central to the reform is the establishment of a fully operational Safe Schools Department within the Federal Ministry of Education. The new unit will coordinate nationwide implementation, harmonise intelligence-sharing, and strengthen collaboration with the NSCDC, now formally designated as the lead agency for school protection.
Government officials say the initiative will replace fragmented and ad hoc security arrangements with clearer operational frameworks and long-term planning.
Alausa also disclosed plans to deploy technology-enabled alert systems—including panic buttons directly linked to security command centres—to accelerate emergency response times. In addition, the government is exploring alternative financing mechanisms to ensure school security operations remain funded even when budgetary disbursements are delayed.
Stark Findings from Nationwide Assessment
The renewed urgency follows findings from a nationwide vulnerability assessment conducted by the NSCDC. According to Commandant-General Audi, more than 60,000 of Nigeria’s approximately 81,000 schools lack adequate security infrastructure.
“These schools are porous—many without perimeter fencing or security personnel—which significantly increases their exposure to threats,” Audi explained. “The assessment provided us with critical data to guide our operational strategy, and we have submitted detailed reports to the Federal Ministry of Education.”
The figures underscore the scale of the challenge facing Africa’s most populous nation, where periodic kidnappings and armed incursions into schools have drawn international concern in recent years.
Targeted Interventions and Persistent Constraints
Audi noted that the corps has already launched specialised interventions, including female security squads and strengthened community-based security networks. He said these initiatives have helped prevent more than 110 security threats against schools nationwide.
“The Safe Schools Protection Squad and our community engagement initiatives have significantly enhanced intelligence gathering and rapid response capacity,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that funding shortfalls remain a critical obstacle. Only a portion of the required resources for school protection has been released, limiting operational reach and sustainability.
“Running these centres under constrained funding has not been easy,” Audi admitted, while reaffirming the corps’ commitment to deeper collaboration with the education ministry.
A Collective Responsibility
Beyond institutional reforms, both officials emphasised that safeguarding schools requires a whole-of-society approach involving government agencies, security services, local communities, and parents.
With millions of Nigerian children relying on public education as a pathway out of poverty, the success of the renewed Safe Schools Initiative could prove pivotal—not only for national security but also for educational continuity and long-term development.
As Alausa concluded, the objective is clear: “Learning must never be held hostage by insecurity.”
Elijah Adeyemi
No comments:
Post a Comment