* When NSCDC launched an emergency response center against kidnapping, terrorism
The Federal Government has said it will ensure the speedy release of funds for the funding of the National Safe Schools Initiative to ensure that children can attend school without fear of abduction or kidnapping for ransom.
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, stated this while launching the National School Safety and Emergency Centre, an initiative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, in Abuja.
He said that the government knows that the success of each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), depends on a safe and secure environment, therefore “We must ensure that every child can learn in a safe environment. he can get the quality education he needs to unlock potential and contribute to building a better Nigeria.
Agba explained that as a follow-up to the previous commitment by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, the budget allocation was given in 2023 to ensure the smooth running and smooth running of the initiative.
“The Federal Government has committed to funding safe schools through the National Plan on Funding Safe Schools. A high-level forum entitled “Funding Safe Schools: Creating Safe Learning Communities” was held in April 2021, which highlighted our commitment to provide adequate funding for implementation National SSD Action Plan 2021–2023.
“This important ceremony is the culmination of several steps taken by the current administration to improve school safety for children.
“Safety these days is a major concern for the average man or woman on the street simply because of the high crime rate in various parts of the world. That’s why we must support all efforts to make our schools safe. This initiative is one of the efforts ,” he said.
He continued, “I believe a proactive strategy is the key to a safe school by focusing on a balanced approach to prevention, intervention, security and emergency preparedness, combined with improving school safety communication, school climate, psychological support services, and meaningful relationships with organizations public. with an interest in safety.”
Earlier, the Commandant General, NSCDC, associate professor, Ahmed Audi, pointed out that the national school security and emergency center is the first in the country and is an initiative under the women corps squad that was launched specifically to provide maximum security for schools and curb school kidnappings among insecurity others affect the school and keep children out of class.
According to him, “No nation can achieve development in the face of widespread insecurity of life and property.
“The rise of the Boko Haram sect has created a new dimension to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria as the main ideological target of this violent extremist group is strange for the elimination of western education in Nigeria.
He explained that the activities of these terrorist groups have not only resulted in the abduction of school children, especially girls, but there have also been incidents of indiscriminate killings of students, teachers and bombings in schools among other atrocities.
He added that “Given the importance of education for the development of human capital, the federal government must take extraordinary measures to address attacks on school facilities in Nigeria, hence, its commitment and endorsement to make all Nigerian schools safe and secure for teaching activities and undisturbed study.
Audi said, “after the flag ceremony, we will start the various processes to the stakeholders to validate the Standard Operating Procedures for this project in order to smoothly run the program in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Home Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola said that the issue of safe schools is a global issue and Nigeria must not fail to protect the future generations.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, he said that the government cannot send children to school because it is not safe, hence the development of the safe school initiative in NSCDC and also part of the agency’s mandate to protect all national assets and infrastructure that schools are part of.
The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen who launched several security monitoring vehicles and gadgets at the event, said that “the government must protect children, ensure their safety and ensure their education because the future of the country depends on them.”