The Federal Government has announced plans to redesign and centralise Nigeria’s Safe Schools framework as part of renewed efforts to protect learners, teachers, and educational infrastructure across the country.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, made this known during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), where he called for a technology-driven and nationally coordinated security architecture for schools.
According to the Minister, ensuring the safety of schools is fundamental to guaranteeing uninterrupted learning and restoring public confidence in the education system.
Dr. Alausa commended the NSCDC for the establishment of the National Safe School Command and Control Centre, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening school security. However, he expressed concern that the initiative currently covers only about 11,000 schools nationwide, a figure he noted is far below what is required to address the country’s growing security challenges in the education sector.
The Minister emphasized that funding for the Safe Schools initiative must be domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure proper coordination, accountability, and sustainability.
He stressed the need for a centralised framework supported by real-time technology, intelligence sharing, early warning alerts, and rapid-response systems capable of preventing and responding swiftly to security threats in schools.
In its presentation, the NSCDC disclosed that more than 81,000 schools across the country lack basic security infrastructure, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the nation’s education system. The revelation highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive and well-funded national strategy to safeguard learning environments.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, Dr. Alausa stated that the redesigned Safe Schools framework would be technology-enabled, centrally coordinated, and aligned with national security priorities. He noted that the initiative is aimed at countering insecurity, reducing fear among students and parents, and ensuring that schools remain safe spaces for learning and development.
The Federal Government reiterated that strengthening school security is a national imperative and pledged to work closely with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to guarantee safe, secure, and resilient learning environments across Nigeria.
