Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to provide a detailed account of how the ₦144.86 billion allocated under Nigeria’s National Plan on Financing Safe Schools has been spent.
Atiku’s demand comes amid reports that insecurity has forced schools to shut down across about 40 local government areas, with terrorists, bandits and other armed groups continuing to threaten educational institutions, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the effectiveness of the Safe Schools programme, arguing that its success should be measured by whether students and teachers can attend school without fear of attacks.
He asked the Federal Government to disclose the amount of money so far mobilised and released, the agencies and contractors that received the funds, the schools covered, the security infrastructure provided and the measurable results achieved.
Atiku maintained that allocating funds alone does not guarantee the safety of schools.
«“Budgeting money is not the same thing as securing schools. Announcing programmes is not the same thing as protecting children.”»
He also criticised what he described as an overly centralised approach to school security, advocating instead for a decentralised, intelligence-led system that relies heavily on information from local communities.
According to him, residents often detect suspicious movements and emerging security threats before such information reaches federal security agencies.
Atiku proposed the establishment of functional early-warning and rapid-response systems around vulnerable schools, improved intelligence sharing between communities, schools and security agencies, as well as clearly defined emergency-response arrangements for high-risk institutions.
He further called for a system that would allow every naira spent on school security to be traced to a specific and measurable outcome.
The ADC presidential candidate also expressed concern over recent attacks and abductions involving schoolchildren in Borno State.
He cited reports that 36 students and a staff member of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, were abducted by gunmen during examinations in late June. He also referred to reports that 42 pupils remained missing following an attack in Mussa on May 15.
Atiku said the continued abduction of schoolchildren demonstrates the direct link between insecurity and Nigeria’s education crisis.
He warned that every school closure could expose children to poverty, child labour, early marriage, exploitation and radicalisation.
The former vice president also challenged President Bola Tinubu over reports that security forces know the locations of forests where terrorists and kidnappers operate.
He urged the government to deploy security forces to those areas, rescue abducted children and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Atiku argued that intelligence is of little value if it does not lead to the arrest of criminals or the rescue of victims.
He said the Safe Schools programme should ultimately be judged by whether Nigerian children can safely leave home, attend school and return to their families.
“Our alternative is straightforward: secure the communities, empower local intelligence, protect vulnerable schools, respond rapidly to threats, measure results, and account for every naira,” Atiku said.
He concluded that school security should be treated not only as an education policy but also as a core component of Nigeria’s national security strategy.
.jpeg)
_1735284064925.jpg "Zainab ambato gani a so free Download")
_1.jpeg "Tarihin fir'auna da Annabi Musa (AS)")
%20(12).webp "Computer Shortcut Keys – Boost Your Productivity")
0 Comment about the Post: