FG Moves to Strengthen Security in Schools Across Border and Riverine Areas

The Federal Government has announced plans to enhance security in schools located within border and riverine communities through the Safe Schools Transition Plan for 2026–2030, a nationwide initiative aimed at ensuring safer learning environments.

The newly approved strategy is designed to strengthen cooperation among security agencies, state governments, and host communities, while also expanding psychosocial support services and improving emergency preparedness for students and educators.

According to officials familiar with the programme, the transition plan will place special emphasis on vulnerable areas, particularly border and riverine regions, to ensure the deployment of security infrastructure and the delivery of targeted training.

One senior official involved in the initiative explained that the focus of the 2026–2030 plan would be on extending security training and capacity-building to high-risk communities, adding that the objective is to fully integrate local areas into the national security framework. Another official noted that the plan also seeks to improve the overall security resilience of host communities.

The Safe Schools Project was established in 2014 following the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. The initiative was introduced under the leadership of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, in collaboration with the Nigerian Global Business Coalition for Education and private-sector partners. It is coordinated in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser and aims to provide a secure and supportive environment for teaching and learning.

In December 2022, the Federal Government launched the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023–2026, with an estimated investment of ₦144.8 billion. Key measures under the plan included the formation of the School Protection Squad, the nationwide deployment of command and control officers, and the establishment of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre to enable rapid response to security threats. Safe Schools Coordinators and Desk Officers were also appointed across all 36 states and the 774 local government areas.

Despite these interventions, school security challenges persist. In December 2025, the Senate initiated an investigation into the Safe Schools Project, citing continued exposure of schools to attacks, mass abductions, and violent incidents.

Figures from the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre indicate a significant increase in school enrolment under the programme, rising from 11,550 registered schools in November 2025 to 14,685 by December. This increase followed several high-profile attacks, including the November 17, 2025 assault on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where 24 students were abducted and the vice-principal was killed, as well as the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, four days later, during which 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted.

Officials have noted that many states are yet to fully implement the Safe Schools Project, underscoring the need for sustained commitment and coordinated action to safeguard students and educators across the country.