Nigeria To Spend N144.8bn On Safe Schools Initiative In 3 Years

National coordinator of the Financing Safe Schools Initiative, Mrs. Halima Iliya, has said N144.8 billion has been earmarked for the scheme from 2023 to 2026.

She disclosed this at the Strategic Stakeholders’ Forum on Security of Schools in the State and Training of School Protection Squad (SPS), organized by the Nigeria Police Force in conjunction with the Niger State Government held at the Posh Event Centre, Minna.

The coordinator stated that the federal government released N15 billion in 2023 to the implementing agencies.

Ilya said the plan was aimed at protecting At-Risk Schools, learners, teachers, and non-teaching staff from attacks so as to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.

She disclosed that “the plan has an investment of N144.8 billion from 2023 to 2026,  the federal government has released N15 billion in 2023 to the implementing agencies”.

In his remark Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago disclosed that  the state government will continue to support security agencies in the fight against kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of criminality in the state.

The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman further stated that the present administration has been working closely with security agencies and other critical stakeholders for the maintenance of peace and stability.

According to him, “Such close working relationships would continue to be sustained to ensure a secured school environment that will enable all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of insecurity in the society”.

In his address, the inspector-general of police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun represented by Ogundele Ayodeji, assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) Zone 7, disclosed that the event was part of federal government and Nigeria Police efforts towards the implementation of National policies and framework on safe school declaration and initiative.