Nigeria’s Safe School Initiative, launched in the aftermath of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, is facing renewed scrutiny as a fresh wave of kidnappings and attacks on schools continues to threaten students and teachers across the country.
The programme was introduced to improve security in schools, support vulnerable communities and ensure uninterrupted education in high-risk areas. However, recent incidents have reignited concerns about its effectiveness, with reports indicating that more than 100 students were kidnapped in May alone.
Among the latest attacks was the abduction of students and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. The incident also claimed the life of teacher Michael Oyedokun, whose killing sparked widespread outrage. Similar attacks have been reported in Borno, Katsina and Zamfara states, while students of Gateway Polytechnic in Ogun State were abducted before being rescued by security operatives.
The Safe School Initiative was established through a partnership involving the Federal Government, private sector stakeholders and international organisations. The government initially committed $10 million to the programme, matched by private sector contributions, while additional support was expected through a multi-donor trust fund.
In 2022, the Federal Government launched a N144.8 billion Safe Schools Financing Plan to strengthen protection for educational institutions. More recently, Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced plans to overhaul school security in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, revealing that more than 60,000 schools lack adequate security infrastructure.
The minister said the government intends to move away from reactive responses by establishing a dedicated Safe Schools Department, deploying technology-driven alert systems and strengthening security presence in vulnerable schools.
Despite these measures, stakeholders argue that implementation has fallen short. Senate investigations into the initiative revealed that more than 1,680 children have been kidnapped and over 180 schools attacked since 2014, raising questions about funding, accountability and operational effectiveness.
The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria warned that continued attacks could worsen the country’s out-of-school children crisis and deepen learning poverty. Education and security experts also cautioned that persistent kidnappings are disrupting learning, traumatising students and undermining public confidence in government efforts to secure schools.
Experts have called for stronger community policing, improved intelligence gathering, better school infrastructure, dedicated school protection units and greater involvement of parents, traditional leaders and local communities in safeguarding educational institutions.
As attacks spread beyond traditional hotspots into other parts of the country, concerns are growing that the Safe School Initiative may struggle to achieve its objectives unless long-standing security and implementation gaps are addressed.
