Pix: Dr. Ahmed Auddi, CG, NSCDC

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, is intensifying efforts to improve the safety of schools by targeting the registration of over 50,000 primary and secondary schools under the Safe School Project by June 2025.

The project initiated by the Federal Government with the National Response Coordination Centre at the NSCDC aims to protect educational institutions from threats and increasing attacks by bandits

The registration drive is crucial in helping authorities track and monitor schools, ensuring that they are better prepared to prevent and respond to security threats, such as kidnappings and attacks.

The Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, Assistant Commandant Rabiu Muhammad, who spoke on Sunday, highlighted the states that are most vulnerable to such risks.

Muhammad identified the North-East and North-West regions as the epicentres of security concerns, with states like “Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger facing the highest risks.”

According to Muhammad, these areas are particularly prone to insurgency and banditry, making the “need for a coordinated security effort even more urgent.”

He also pointed out that over “10,000 schools were registered in 2024, with the goal now set to reach 50,000 by June, 2025.”

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However, the commander lamented that some school owners are still hesitant to register, fearing potential government taxation.

The initiative, which involves collaboration between federal and state governments, has already led to the prevention of over “38 attacks last year,” according to the commander.

Muhammad stressed the importance of school registration, not just for safety, but for ensuring that schools are properly monitored and prepared in case of emergencies.

In addition to the registration effort, he acknowledged that many schools are still inadequately secured, relying on aging security personnel or lacking basic protective infrastructure.

“Many schools are still inadequately secured, relying on aging security personnel or lacking basic protective infrastructure.

“Some of the security guards are in their 70s and 80s. So, ask yourself, someone of 80 years, can he guard the students or the teachers?” the commander questioned.

He called for more commitment from state governments to invest in the safety of schools, warning that without such investments, the security of students across the country would remain at risk.