Senate launches probe into safe school initiative amid rising attacks on Nigerian schools
The Nigerian Senate has commenced an in-depth investigation into the Safe School Initiative (SSI), a program designed to protect schoolchildren, amid growing concerns over its apparent ineffectiveness.
The lawmakers have described the move as a long-overdue inquiry into billions of naira and millions of dollars reportedly allocated over the years to secure schools across the country.
The decision to probe the SSI followed a series of violent attacks, mass abductions, and increasing insecurity in educational institutions, which critics said point to a failure of the initiative to achieve its primary goal of safeguarding Nigerian students.
Presiding over the inaugural session of the 18-member ad hoc committee set up to lead the investigation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State and the committee chairman, pledged that no stone would be left unturned.
He emphasised that the National Assembly was committed to a thorough examination of every aspect of the initiative, including its funding, implementation strategy, deployment of security personnel, and coordination among relevant agencies.
Senator Kalu described the ongoing attacks on schools as “unacceptable for a nation committed to educational development and child safety.”
Citing official records, he revealed that more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped and at least 180 schools attacked since 2014, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the SSI.
The committee’s investigation, lawmakers say, aims to identify systemic gaps and provide actionable recommendations to prevent further tragedies, restore public confidence, and ensure that future investments in school security yield tangible results.
The Senate’s move comes amid heightened public scrutiny of government efforts to secure educational institutions, with parents, educators, and civil society groups increasingly demanding accountability and effective protection measures for children.
