By Olukayode Idowu
The Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative is to fully take-off soon as preparation for it is almost concluded.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Olusola Odumosu, reads: “Preparatory for the full take off of the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative, the Financing Safe School Secretariat/Technical Working Committee has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to guarantee success of the programme.”
He said while hosting the technical working committee on national schools security, at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja, the Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi appreciated the team for their support, commitment and synergy with sister agencies towards ensuring that schools in Nigeria are secured.
He said that, to protect schools, the Corps introduced the School Community Security Vanguard, established the Special Female Squad, Integrated Electronic Arrest Reporting System (I-EARS) amongst others.
According to Audi, two locations have been proposed to be developed as permanent control rooms for the programme by the NSCDC.
He said: “Two permanent sites are also allocated for the building of national schools’ security and emergency response centre readily available within the premises.
“There is a national center design for the construction of the safe school and will be made available for viewing if you decide to site the safe school here.
He reiterated that, as the lead agency in the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, NSCDC is ready to deliver on the assignment, while also tasking Private Guard Companies (PGC) on timely grassroot intelligence gathering to ensure adequate protection of schools in the country.
He affirmed that, the Corps had trained well over 3.5 million guards and advised that since they are close to the grassroots, that relationship could be exploited to attract credible intelligence.
The Head of Financing safe schools secretariat and Technical working committee, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Halima Iliya, appreciated the Corps’ donations and promised to utilize the infrastructure provided.
After inspecting the donated office workspace and control room, Iliya said that the committee will remodel the office as it lacks funds for construction of the undeveloped donated sites.
She said that a lot of advocacy will be carried out in rural areas as she advocated for the importance of community response.
She stressed the need for all stakeholders most especially, security agencies to continue to evolve proactive measures that would yield results in response to the nation’s security challenges.
