Citing public reports, the group said that more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped since 2014, while approximately 180 educational facilities have been attacked.
KaNo —
Stakeholders across Nigeria have renewed calls for transparency and accountability in the management of funds allocated to the Safe Schools Initiative, as concerns deepen over persistent attacks on educational institutions and the abduction of schoolchildren.
The demand was led by the Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), which on Thursday urged the Federal Government to conduct a comprehensive audit of the initiative’s finances and implementation outcomes.
In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Funmi Falana (SAN), the organisation questioned whether the programme has achieved its core objective of safeguarding schools and ensuring uninterrupted access to education.
The Safe Schools Initiative was established in 2014 by the Federal Government in partnership with private sector actors and international organisations following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram.
The mass kidnapping drew global outrage and highlighted the vulnerability of schools in conflict-affected regions.
Designed as a multi-stakeholder intervention, the initiative aimed to strengthen security infrastructure in schools, protect students and teachers, and promote continued access to education, particularly in areas prone to insurgency and violence.
However, WELA said that despite significant financial commitments over the years, the reality on the ground suggests that many schools remain dangerously exposed.
“Recent incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren have once again brought national attention to the vulnerability of our schools and the frightening reality that many Nigerian parents still send their children to school uncertain whether they will return home safely,” the statement said.
Additional support was reportedly provided by international development agencies.
In subsequent years, the government introduced the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023–2026), which projected a funding requirement of N144.86 billion, with N15 billion allocated in the 2023 budget.
Despite these investments, WELA noted that insecurity in schools has persisted at alarming levels.
Citing public reports, the group said that more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped since 2014, while approximately 180 educational facilities have been attacked.
Other estimates suggest that over 2,000 students have been abducted within the same period, with hundreds of schools forced to shut down due to safety concerns.
“Twelve years have now passed since the launch of the Safe Schools Initiative.
The question Nigerians are entitled to ask is simple: what has been achieved?” the group queried.
WELA expressed concern that the scale and frequency of attacks point to gaps in implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes designed to secure schools.
While acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges, the organisation insisted that public accountability remains non-negotiable, particularly where the safety of children is concerned.
“Where public funds have been committed in the name of protecting children, the public has a right to know how those funds have been utilised, what projects have been executed, what outcomes have been achieved, and what lessons have been learnt,” the statement added.
The group called on relevant government agencies to publish a comprehensive report detailing all financial commitments to the initiative since its inception, the amount disbursed, and the specific interventions carried out.
It also requested information on the number of schools that have benefited from security upgrades, as well as measurable reductions in attacks and abductions.
In addition, WELA urged authorities to make public annual implementation and impact reports, alongside the findings of any legislative investigations into the utilisation of Safe Schools funds.
The organisation stressed that transparency would not only build public trust but also help identify gaps and improve future interventions.
“The continued abduction of schoolchildren should not be treated as a recurring news cycle that briefly captures public attention before being forgotten. Each incident is a reminder that the work of protecting our schools remains unfinished,” the group stated.
WELA further emphasised the need for a detailed status report covering financial records, implementation outcomes, independent evaluations, and a clear roadmap for strengthening school security nationwide.
“Nigerian children deserve more than assurances. They deserve results. They deserve safe schools,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, experts in education and safety have proposed new strategies to address the growing crisis, calling for a shift from fragmented responses to a more coordinated and technology-driven approach.
One such expert, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, Lead Resource at Safe Schools Lagos, advocated the deployment of solar-powered panic alarm systems in schools across the country.
”The conference brought together policymakers, security experts, and education stakeholders to examine existing policy frameworks and propose solutions to the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s education sector.
In her presentation, Akin-Alabi argued that the scale of the problem requires a unified national framework backed by legislation.
She proposed the adoption of a Unified National School Safety Code built on three pillars: physical security, psychological safety, and disaster preparedness.
“We selected this theme in response to the alarming rise in school abductions in Nigeria,” she said, adding that addressing the crisis meaningfully would require a comprehensive and enforceable system rather than scattered guidelines.
Akin-Alabi outlined key components of the proposed framework, including fortified school perimeters, clearly defined emergency response protocols, and the installation of solar-powered satellite panic alarms to enable rapid communication during security breaches.
“We are looking at stronger physical protection measures, including fortified perimeters, standard emergency protocols, and solar-powered satellite panic alarms,” she explained.
She also recommended the creation of a decentralised intelligence and response network involving parents, community leaders, and local stakeholders.
According to her, such a system would enhance information sharing and enable quicker responses to emerging threats.
To ensure sustainability, Akin-Alabi proposed the establishment of a National School Safety Trust Fund, with a structured funding model allocating 50 per cent to physical infrastructure, 40 per cent to technology systems, and 10 per cent to capacity building at the community level.
As calls for reform grow louder, observers say the future of Nigeria’s education system may depend on how effectively the government addresses concerns around transparency, funding, and the protection of vulnerable students.
For many families, the stakes remain high, as the promise of education continues to be overshadowed by fears of insecurity.
