Education and security representatives at a summit in Lagos have called for a unified national framework to protect schools, with clearer responsibilities for government agencies, schools and communities.
The call came at the seventh annual summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria on Wednesday. Speakers said existing safety policies were being weakened by poor coordination and inconsistent implementation.
In an address delivered on his behalf by Joseph Awoyinka, National Universities Commission governing board chairman Oluwatoyin Ogundipe called for federal, state and local efforts to be aligned and for responsibilities to be clearly assigned, Premium Times reported.
He said school protection should extend beyond fences and surveillance cameras to evacuation procedures, communication arrangements, safe rooms and personnel trained to respond to emergencies. Rural and conflict-prone schools needed particular attention, he said.
Halima Iliya, national coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, said the federal government had established a response coordination centre and assessed vulnerable schools and communities. She said the programme included training for parents, teachers, students and community members, alongside support for security agencies.
Iliya said states were expected to include the Safe Schools programme in their annual budgets. Ogundipe also called for school safety to be incorporated into government budgeting and planning.
Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, represented by Lagos police commissioner Tijani Fatai, urged schools and communities to report credible threats through appropriate channels. He said prevention required identifying vulnerabilities and gathering intelligence, as well as trust built through professional conduct and accountability.
The summit also examined what journalists should investigate before attacks occur. Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism executive director Motunrayo Alaka urged regular school visits and closer scrutiny of safety standards.
EWAN chairman Mojeed Alabi called for reporting on warning signs, funding and emergency preparedness, including whether authorities carry out promised safety measures.
Source: Premium Times
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