The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has again assured residents that its schools are safe while expressing commitment to the security of its students and pupils.
The assurance followed reports that schools in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of attacks by bandits and insurgents.
FCT Director, Secondary Education Board (SEB), Dr Sani Ladan, who stated this while speaking with LEADERSHIP, said it was imperative to again allay the fears of parents, guardians, and stakeholders of the safety of their wards in the schools operating in Abuja.
According to him, FCT schools which resumed for the third term last week had been running smoothly with daily and intensive monitoring and inspection mechanism in place by its various departments mandated with such responsibilities.
“The security outfits are taking care of the security situation in our schools. We have vigilantes that were sent to all our schools. They are to monitor the security situation within and outside the school premises and ensure that they are always present at their duty posts.
“I can boldly say that FCT schools are safe for children and teachers by God’s grace. Because we have put in place all necessary precautions to ensure that our schools are safe.
“All necessary arrangements have also been made in terms of security, through the director of Security in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
“In some schools the PTA are assisting us, also both the communities where the schools are located. While at our own here, through the director of Security, Vigilantes and the Mobile Police have been engaged to ensure security in our schools,” Ladan said.
The director further said that teachers and students are being sensitised on daily basis to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious movement within and around the schools to the appropriate authorities.
“There is also serious sentisation on the need to ensure that our schools are safe, that the teachers and students should always be security conscious and to observe if there is any strange movements and actions to take at that moment when they notice such within the school premises.
“Also, CCTVs have installed in some of our schools, mostly the boarding schools, while there are plans to ensure that all our schools have them,” he said.
