Abductions: Stakeholders Demand Audit of Safe Schools Funds and Panic Alarms

Women Empowerment and Legal Aid Demands Audit of Safe Schools Initiative Funds

Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the Safe Schools Initiative, urging a comprehensive audit of the funds allocated to the programme. The group, led by its Chairperson Funmi Falana (SAN), highlighted that despite the initiative's launch over a decade ago, schoolchildren continue to face threats from attacks and abductions.

The Safe Schools Initiative was launched in 2014 following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram. It aimed to enhance security in schools, protect students and teachers, and ensure uninterrupted access to education, particularly in conflict-prone areas.

According to WELA, significant financial commitments have been made to the initiative over the years, yet schoolchildren remain vulnerable. Recent incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren have once again brought attention to the vulnerability of schools and the fear many Nigerian parents face when sending their children to school.

The initiative initially received $20 million, with $10 million from the Federal Government and another $10 million from private sector partners. Additional support came from international development partners, while the Federal Government introduced the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023–2026), projecting a funding requirement of N144.86bn and receiving an allocation of N15bn in 2023.

WELA cited public reports indicating that more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped and about 180 educational facilities attacked since 2014. Other estimates suggest that over 2,000 students have been abducted in the past decade, with hundreds of schools forced to shut down due to insecurity.

The organisation raised concerns about the implementation, monitoring, and effectiveness of programmes established to protect children and educational institutions. While acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges, WELA insisted that public officials must account for resources committed to protecting schoolchildren.

“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.

WELA called on the Federal Government and agencies responsible for the Safe Schools Initiative to provide a comprehensive public account of the programme from inception to date. Among the issues raised were the total amount committed to the initiative since 2014, how much has been disbursed, the number of schools that have benefited from security interventions, measurable reductions in attacks on schools, and the agencies responsible for implementation and oversight.

The organisation also sought the publication of annual implementation and impact reports as well as the findings of a Senate investigation into the utilisation of Safe Schools funds. “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 statement read.

WELA urged the Federal Government to publish a detailed status report on the Safe Schools Initiative, including financial records, implementation outcomes, independent evaluations, and plans for strengthening school security nationwide. “Nigerian children deserve more than assurances. They deserve results. They deserve safe schools,” the organisation said.

Proposed Reforms for School Security

Meanwhile, a safety and education expert has called for the deployment of solar-powered panic alarm systems in schools across Nigeria, as part of broader reforms to address rising cases of school abductions and insecurity.

Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, Lead Resource at Safe Schools Lagos, made the proposal while speaking at the Renewed Hope Global Town Hall Virtual Conference themed “Safe Schools, Secure Nation: Advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.” The conference convened stakeholders to examine policy responses to school security challenges across the country.

In her presentation, Akin-Alabi said the scale of insecurity in schools required a shift from fragmented responses to a unified national framework. She proposed a Unified National School Safety Code backed by law and anchored on three pillars: physical security, psychological safety, and disaster readiness.

According to her, “We selected this theme in response to the alarming rise in school abductions in Nigeria,” adding that “to address the issue meaningfully,” there was a need for a comprehensive and enforceable system.

Akin-Alabi outlined key elements of the proposed framework, including fortified school perimeters, structured emergency protocols, and the installation of solar-powered satellite panic alarm systems to enable rapid response during emergencies. “We are looking at stronger physical protection measures, including fortified perimeters, standard emergency protocols, and solar-powered satellite panic alarms,” she said.

She also recommended a decentralised intelligence and response network involving parents, community leaders, and local stakeholders, alongside digital auditing systems to monitor compliance and improve response time. Akin-Alabi further proposed the establishment of a National School Safety Trust Fund, suggesting a funding structure in which “50 per cent is dedicated to kinetic fortification, 40 per cent to technology systems, and 10 per cent to local capacity building.”

On governance, Akin-Alabi stressed the need for a single national framework. “We must establish a Unified National School Safety Code supported by law and overseen by an independent inspectorate,” she said, adding that effective coordination would require “a small, proactive leadership committee of no more than five people, with government taking the lead.”

Participants at the conference commended the presentation, describing it as a strong policy blueprint capable of informing national decision-making. During the interactive session, stakeholders raised questions on funding, implementation across diverse state contexts, and integration with existing education safety policies.

Responding, Akin-Alabi said sustainability would require multi-stakeholder financing, noting that “sustainable funding should come from a mix of government support, private-sector contributions, and development partners rather than relying solely on public funds.” She also emphasised the role of community participation, stating that alumni associations should be integrated into school governing structures to strengthen oversight and support.

“We must assign clear responsibilities to stakeholders, including alumni through school governing councils,” she said. Akin-Alabi further called for a secure digital platform to report safety breaches and share ideas, while warning against indiscriminate sharing of sensitive security information on social media.

She said the proposed reforms were designed to move Nigeria’s school safety strategy from reactive responses to preventive systems capable of anticipating threats. The presentation was widely praised by participants for translating a complex national security challenge into actionable policy proposals.