Senate probes safe school initiative over persistent attacks, abductions despite huge funding

The senate on Wednesday began an investigation into the safeschool initiative (SSI), expressing concern over its failure to prevent attacksand abductions in schools despite years of financial investment. Orji Kalu, chairman of the ad hoc committee set up to lookinto the initiative, said the senate would uncover all issues around theprogramme and ensure accountability.Kalu said more than 1,680 schoolchildren have beenkidnapped, while 180 educational facilities have been attacked since 2014. He described the situation as “unacceptable for a nationcommitted to educational development and child safety”. “It is unacceptable that our schools remain soft targets forterrorists and kidnappers,” Kalu said. “We will track every naira and every dollar allocated to thesafe school initiative.” He said Nigerians deserve to know why schools remain unsafe“despite enormous investment and global support”. Kalu said the committee will conduct a financial andoperational audit of the programme. The former Abia governor said the committee will engagefederal ministries, state governments, security agencies and civil societyorganisations (CSOs) during the course of the probe. He added that the panel will also review fundingutilisation, security deployment, emergency response systems, infrastructureupgrades and donor partnerships. “This is not a witch-hunt. We owe Nigerian parents theresponsibility to guarantee that their children can pursue education withoutfear,” he said. He said the senate will not rest until it gets answers. The investigation follows the abduction of 25 femalestudents from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbistate, on November 17. Days later, 227 persons, including teachers and students,were also abducted when bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary andSecondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger state. Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier named an18-member ad hoc committee to lead the probe. Members include Tony Nwoye (Anambra north), Yemi Adaramodu(Ekiti south), Harry Ipalibo (Rivers west), Ede Dafinone (Delta central),Mustapha Saliu Mustapha (Kwara central), Diket Plang (Plateau central), BinusYaroe (Adamawa south), Kaka Shehu (Borno central) and Musa Maidoki (Kebbisouth). The committee has four weeks to submit its report andrecommendations. The safe school initiative was launched in May 2014 afterthe abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in Borno state. It was designed as a partnership between the government, theUnited Nations (UN) and the private sector. Kalu said $10 million initial funding and more than $30million were mobilised between 2014 and 2021 for the initiative. He added that N144 billion was budgeted for the programmefrom 2023 to 2026, noting that attacks targeting schools have worsened, despitethe allocations. The lawmaker reiterated that the committee will“re-engineer” the initiative. “Our goal is simple: to make Nigerian schools safe, secure,and conducive for learning,” he said. He added that “nothing short of genuine accountability willsuffice.”

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