FG to Overhaul Safe Schools Initiative, Partners with NSCDC to Strengthen Security

The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to reinforce security across schools nationwide, announcing a major overhaul of the Safe Schools Initiative in partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The move follows alarming revelations that more than 60,000 schools in Nigeria lack adequate security infrastructure.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a visit to the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, in Abuja, where both officials reviewed the country’s school security framework.

Alausa said the government would move away from reactive approaches to school attacks and instead adopt a structured and sustained security strategy, particularly in vulnerable communities.

“We will move from knee-jerk responses to a continuous security presence, especially in vulnerable schools. Our children must remain safe in school, and this administration is committed to providing the resources and structure required,” he said.

The minister described attacks and abductions in schools as unacceptable, stressing that the government maintains zero tolerance for assaults on educational institutions.

He added that safeguarding pupils is a collective responsibility involving government authorities, security agencies, and host communities.

As part of the renewed strategy, Alausa announced the creation of a dedicated Safe Schools Department within the Federal Ministry of Education.

The unit will coordinate national security efforts, strengthen collaboration with relevant agencies, and ensure consistent implementation of safety measures.

He also revealed plans to integrate technology into the security framework, including the deployment of panic buttons and alert systems directly linked to security command centres to enable rapid emergency response.

To tackle longstanding funding constraints that have hindered previous interventions, the minister said the government is exploring sustainable financing models to guarantee steady funding for school security, independent of delays in budgetary approvals.

Alausa formally designated the NSCDC as the lead agency responsible for school protection, stating that improved operational coordination would replace what he described as fragmented and reactive arrangements.

Providing insight into the scale of the challenge, NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Audi disclosed that a nationwide vulnerability assessment found that over 60,000 of approximately 81,000 schools across the country are “porous” and lack basic security features such as perimeter fencing and security personnel.

“These schools are porous in the sense that there is no presence of security personnel or perimeter fencing. That gave us a guide on how to develop our operational strategy for mutual security and safety in schools,” Audi said.

He added that the assessment report had been submitted to the Ministry of Education to inform policy decisions and targeted interventions.

Despite the concerning statistics, Audi noted that specialised Safe Schools Protection Squads, including female response teams and community-based security structures, have helped prevent more than 110 potential threats against schools nationwide.

“The Safe Schools Protection Squad and community engagement initiatives have significantly strengthened intelligence gathering and emergency response,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that funding shortfalls remain a significant obstacle, revealing that only a fraction of the required resources has been released.

While describing operations under financial constraints as challenging, Audi assured the minister of the corps’ commitment to deepening collaboration with the Education Ministry to ensure safer learning environments across the country.

With tens of thousands of schools still vulnerable, the effectiveness of the revamped Safe Schools Initiative will depend on improved coordination, sustained funding, and a strengthened on-ground security presence to safeguard millions of Nigerian children.