We Are Taking Steps To Safeguard Kano Schools – Gov. Yusuf

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State says his administration has taken significant steps to ensure the safety of all schools across the state.

Yusuf disclosed this at the opening of a Stakeholders Forum on the security of schools in Kano State and the Training of the Schools Protection Squad, held at the Government House, Kano, on Monday

Represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, the governor reassured the stakeholders of the State Government’s commitment to the development of the education sector.

As the nation continues to face challenges in ensuring school safety, he said, the forum marked a crucial step towards strengthening security resilience and promoting a safer learning environment.

In his remarks, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, National Coordinator of the Schools Protection Squad, emphasized the importance of school security, stating that it is paramount to the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the school’s security protection Squad was initiated by the Inspector-General of Police with a view to addressing security challenges in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

“The security and safety of our schools and other learning environments continue to attract the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“In recent years, Nigeria has faced security challenges such as kidnappings, homicide, and destruction of school infrastructure, sometimes leading to school closures and negatively affecting host communities. These incidences can be linked to the increasing number of out-of-school children.

“The National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in a 2021 report indicated that between 2012 and 2016, more than 600 teachers were killed in attacks, while more than 19,000 were displaced,” Shogunle said.

He said the event, Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities, aligned with the national plan on financing safe schools in the country.

According to him, the plan has a national investment response aimed at protecting schools, learners, teachers and non-teaching staff from attacks.

The national coordinator also stated that the plan was designed to achieve measurable outcomes such as reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving Nigeria’s rating in the human capital index in the long run.

“The policy also provides guidelines and a framework for ensuring safe and secure learning environments in schools nationwide,” he added.