The Federal Government, in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, on Monday formally launched the Safe Schools Initiative in Lagos State as part of a nationwide effort to safeguard learning environments from growing security threats.
The high-level Stakeholders’ Forum, themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” brought together federal and state officials, security agencies, educators, community leaders, and students to chart a new course for school safety in Nigeria’s economic nerve center.
In his opening address, CP Olohundare Jimoh, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, emphasized the significance of the event as a “landmark initiative” of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun. He described school protection as a “fundamental obligation” of the police and called for collective responsibility in building secure, fear-free learning environments.
“Our schools must remain safe havens where learning thrives without fear,” CP Jimoh said. “This forum, coupled with the training of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS), marks a proactive step toward achieving that goal.”
He highlighted the integration of host communities—parents, teachers, traditional rulers, and youth groups—into the security framework as critical to success, urging them to act as the “eyes and ears” of their neighborhoods and to engage actively with the police in intelligence gathering and early-warning systems.
CP Jimoh appealed to school proprietors to adopt security-conscious policies, establish direct lines of communication with the SPS, conduct regular safety drills, and support awareness campaigns for both staff and students. To the students and pupils present, he said, “Your education is our priority, and your safety is our mission. Stay vigilant, speak up, and participate in safety programs. Your voices matter.”
Also speaking at the forum, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, representing the IGP, underscored the urgency of the Safe Schools Initiative given the global rise in attacks on education. He cited a report by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) which recorded over 5,000 school-related attacks between 2020 and 2022. In Nigeria, these include high-profile kidnappings, cult-related violence, and insecurity from insurgents and criminal gangs.
According to AIG Adegoke, the Nigeria Police has activated an intelligence-led, community-oriented approach tailored to local threats. “With the formal inauguration of the Lagos State Schools Protection Squad (SPS), we are not just reacting—we are building a sustainable response framework that includes drone surveillance, rapid response teams, and extensive community engagement.”
He announced that all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Lagos and Ogun states have been instructed to work with education stakeholders and community leaders to develop localized school safety plans.
In a broader national context, CP (Dr.) Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Schools Protection Squad at Force Headquarters, Abuja, provided a detailed overview of Nigeria’s long-term commitments to school safety. He cited several milestones including the 2019 signing of the Safe Schools Declaration, the 2021 Abuja-hosted 4th International Conference on Safe Schools, and the introduction of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools in 2022.
“The Federal Government’s National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023–2026) provides a multi-tier strategy anchored on security, community resilience, and rapid emergency response,” Shogunle said. “We now operate a 24/7 Emergency Centre for school-related incidents, and Lagos has rightly been included in the pilot phase due to its strategic importance.”
Shogunle listed key policy objectives including: improving school-community security infrastructure, empowering local vigilantes and neighborhood watch, enhancing police response mechanisms, and providing assistance to victims of attacks.
Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli Balogun, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting its growing school population.
“This Safe Schools Initiative reflects our shared duty to protect education from threats like kidnapping, drug abuse, and cultism,” Balogun said. “We are committed to collaborating with the Nigeria Police, vigilante groups, and civil society to ensure every school is a fortress of knowledge and safety.”
He also urged schools to prioritize the safety of girls and vulnerable learners, especially in rural and coastal communities.
In her remarks, Hajiya Halima Iliya, National Coordinator on Financing Safe Schools from the Federal Ministry of Finance, outlined government plans to decentralize the response model. She called on state and local governments to allocate funds in their annual budgets for school safety, including perimeter fencing, security vehicles, and emergency drills.
“We expect all states to adopt and implement the minimum standards for safe schools and ensure that host communities become co-owners of the protection architecture,” she said.
The forum concluded with a renewed call for a “whole-of-society approach” to school safety—uniting government, security forces, educators, parents, and students in a coordinated effort to reduce the number of out-of-school children, foster peace in educational institutions, and improve Nigeria’s human capital development.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo