Insecurity: Senate constitutes panel to probe $30m spent on Nigeria’s Safe-School Programme

The Senate on Thursday constituted a 13-member ad hoc committee to investigate how over $30 million was spent on Nigeria’s Safe-School Programme, a federal security initiative launched in 2014 to protect students and schools from attacks.

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The programme was introduced in the wake of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and was designed to operate at different levels, including state-led efforts and national coordination through agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Safe School Parents Watch Network.

The committee is mandated to examine how the funds were utilised on measures intended to secure students, teachers, and school infrastructure from the inception of the programme to date.

Its constitution followed a motion by Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi North), who raised concern over the rising cases of student kidnappings and attacks on schools and worship centres across the country.

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Mr Yahaya’s motion, moved on 18 November, triggered extensive debate, with lawmakers condemning the escalation of kidnappings and calling for more effective responses to Nigeria’s security crisis.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced that the committee would be chaired by Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North).

Other members of the committee are, Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), Ipalibo Banigo (PDP, Rivers West), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central), Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), Binos Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South), Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), Garba Maidoki (APC, Kebbi South), Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West) and Sahabi Yau (APC, Zamfara North).

Mr Akpabio directed the committee to submit its report within four weeks.

Rising insecurity

Nigeria has continue to battle persistent insecurity marked by frequent kidnappings, armed attacks, and violent assaults on communities, schools, and places of worship. All these are happening despite the huge amount the government is budgeting for the nation’s security yearly.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, on motorcycles, abducted 25 schoolgirls from their dormitory, killed the school’s vice principal, and injured a local security guard, Ali Maga.

The students were freed on Sunday, 23 November.

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On 19 November, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others. All the worshippers were freed on Sunday.

Last Friday, armed men invaded the St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, and abducted 303 pupils, students, and staff, triggering widespread outrage and renewed calls for improved security in the state and the country.

Fifty of abductees have since escaped from captivity.

These incidents form part of a troubling escalation in banditry, terrorism, and communal violence that have stretched Nigeria’s security agencies thin.