The Nigeria Police Force has met with stakeholders to demonstrate a collective commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Lagos schools.
The 2-day stakeholders’ forum on the security of schools in Lagos State and training of the School Protection Squad (SPS), was held on Monday at the POWA Hall, Ikeja.
The theme of the forum is, “Strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education”.
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said that school insecurity was a direct threat to global peace and human capital development.
“School insecurity is not only a breach of the right to education, it is a direct threat to global peace and human capital development.
“A safe school is where a culture of safety for our students, teachers, staff and host communities are integrated in the security architecture of schools.
“Education is recognised as a cornerstone of individual and societal development across the world as it empowers individuals and paves the way for economic progress.
“As we launch the SPS we mark a significant stride towards an all-inclusive approach to school safety, ” he said.
Egbetokun was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade.
He said that the initiative would involve training programmes for educators, administrators, and security personnel, who would in turn leverage on the acquired skills to recognise and respond to security threats.
“We will also make use of modern technology and intelligence led policing to ensure proactive law enforcement presence around our schools ” he said.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh said the need to continue to fortify the security of educational institutions was important.
“There is need to collaborate to safeguard schools.
“The police cannot do this alone. The integration of host communities—parents, local leaders, and residents—into our security framework is of great significance.
“The role of our school proprietors is very germane in ensuring security in our schools through the lookout for early warning signals and inform the police in your localities to address the situation before it gets out of hands.
“I urge you to prioritise regular
safety drills with police SPS, create awareness programs, and open communication channels with parents and security agencies.
“To the students and pupils here today, you are the heartbeat of this initiative. Your education is our priority, and your safety is our obligation and mission. I encourage you to stay vigilant, report suspicious activities, ” Jimoh said.
The National Coordinator on Financing Safe School Programme, Mrs Halimah Iliya said that I-G Egbetokun had established a special squad dedicated for safe schools to enhance security in schools.
She said that strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education was one of the objectives of National Plan on Financing Safe Schools.
Iliya urged the states and local government to ensure that as part of their contributions in securing the future of the children and the country at at large need to support the programme.
“States that have not keyed into the safe schools programme are required to do so to enhance effective and measurable outcome which will improve Nigeria’s rating in Human Capital Index.
The Commissioner of Police, SPS, Mr Abayomi Shogunle, attributed the increasing out of school children to security challenges.
He said that the forum’s theme aligned with the national plan on financing safe schools in Nigeria.
“The plan has a national investment response aimed at protecting schools, learners, teachers and non-teaching staff from attacks in all parts of Nigeria.
“It was designed to achieve measurable outcomes such as reducing the numbers of out of school children and improving Nigeria’s rating in the human capital index in the long run,” he said.
Shogunle said that the objectives were to enhance the capacity of security agencies to gather intelligence, prevent, and respond to attacks on educational institution and to provide assistance to survivors of attacks on educational institutions, ” he said.
According to him, the NPF now has a 24/7 functioning Emergency Centre dedicated to responding to Schools Emergencies.
“In case of school emergency in any part of Nigeria such as attacks on schools, on hostels, students kidnapping, and other threats call 08077357777,” he said.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said that the initiative was an integral of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu as a result of the imminent security challenges in the country where the life and property of pupils and schools had to be protected.
“The siege of insecurity should not hinder access to the qualitative education of our children who are the leaders of tomorrow.
“The safe school declaration document is a policy put in place to ensure that our school space is secured to protect the pupils, students, staff personnel and properties.
“It is our core duty and responsibilities to entrench full protection that arise from external threats such as kidnapping, child trafficking and communal clashes, and the internal threats such as child abuse, cultism, bullying, and drug abuse and other threat.
“Our investment in education and security in the state has kept the state secured and attract people from all over Nigeria for various opportunities, ” he said.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Aliu-Balogun, said the state had invested in school infrastructure to accommodate the growing population of children while also addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
Newsextra24 reports that attendees included security agencies, school proprietors, students, pupils, representatives of the corporate sector, royal fathers, religious leaders, and members of host communities.
