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

The senate on Wednesday began an investigation into the safe school initiative (SSI), expressing concern over its failure to prevent attacks and abductions in schools despite years of financial investment.

Orji Kalu, chairman of the ad hoc committee set up to look into the initiative, said the senate would uncover all issues around the programme and ensure accountability.

Kalu said more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped, while 180 educational facilities have been attacked since 2014.

He described the situation as “unacceptable for a nation committed to educational development and child safety”.

“It is unacceptable that our schools remain soft targets for terrorists and kidnappers,” Kalu said.

“We will track every naira and every dollar allocated to the safe 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 and operational audit of the programme.

The former Abia governor said the committee will engage federal ministries, state governments, security agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs) during the course of the probe.

He added that the panel will also review funding utilisation, security deployment, emergency response systems, infrastructure upgrades and donor partnerships.

“This is not a witch-hunt. We owe Nigerian parents the responsibility to guarantee that their children can pursue education without fear,” he said.

He said the senate will not rest until it gets answers.

The investigation follows the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi state, on November 17.

Days later, 227 persons, including teachers and students, were also abducted when bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger state.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier named an 18-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), Binus Yaroe (Adamawa south), Kaka Shehu (Borno central) and Musa Maidoki (Kebbi south).

The committee has four weeks to submit its report and recommendations.

The safe school initiative was launched in May 2014 after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in Borno state.

It was designed as a partnership between the government, the United Nations (UN) and the private sector.

Kalu said $10 million initial funding and more than $30 million were mobilised between 2014 and 2021 for the initiative.

He added that N144 billion was budgeted for the programme from 2023 to 2026, noting that attacks targeting schools have worsened, despite the 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 will suffice.”