By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
The Nigerian Senate has launched a full-scale investigation into the Safe School Initiative, a program aimed at protecting schoolchildren from insecurity, amid growing concerns over the safety of pupils and students in the country.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe School Initiative, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, disclosed this while addressing journalists, vowing that the committee will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of the issues plaguing the initiative.
According to Senator Kalu, despite the allocation of ₦144 billion for the initiative from 2023-2026, the program has failed to prevent mass abductions and attacks on schools. “Over 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped and 180 facilities attacked since 2014,” Senator Kalu revealed, citing data that highlighted the gravity of the situation.
“It’s unacceptable that our schools remain soft targets for terrorists and kidnappers,” Senator Kalu emphasized, stressing that the committee will conduct a comprehensive financial audit and gather testimony from relevant stakeholders to assess the operational effectiveness of the Safe School Initiative.
The committee will also review the implementation of the Safe School Initiative’s key components, including the deployment of security personnel, early warning systems, and physical infrastructure upgrades. “We will track every naira and every dollar allocated to the Safe School Initiative,” Senator Kalu emphasized.
Senator Kalu urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the committee, stressing that the investigation is not a witch-hunt, but a genuine effort to ensure accountability and transparency. “We owe it to Nigerian parents to assure them that their children’s path to education is protected,” Senator Kalu said.
The investigation comes as Nigeria grapples with a surge in insecurity, particularly in the northern regions, where schools have been targeted by terrorists and kidnappers. The Safe School Initiative program was launched in May 2014 as a response to the Chibok schoolgirls abduction.
The program is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving the Nigerian government, UN, and private sector organizations, aiming to protect schools and students in insecure areas. Initial funding was $10 million, with over $30 million mobilized between 2014-2021.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the Senate within a specified period, with recommendations on how to re-engineer the Safe School Initiative and ensure that schools are truly safe and conducive for learning.
The Senate’s move has been welcomed by concerned citizens and stakeholders, who hope that the investigation will lead to concrete actions to address the insecurity challenges facing Nigerian schools.
The investigation is seen as a critical step towards ensuring that Nigerian schools are safe and secure, and that the country’s future leaders are protected and able to pursue their education without fear of attack or abduction.
