2,814 primary and secondary schools have signed up for the Safe School Response initiative to protect their students and teachers from attacks.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps launched the Safe School Response initiative in response to an increase in bandit attacks on schools.
Hammed Abodunrin, Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSCDC), noted that the figure had been low since the registration system was introduced six months ago.
The Federal Government established the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, which is responsible for coordinating safety and security responses to violence against schools and host communities.
In light of the recurrence of mass student abductions, the Federal Government has warned that schools in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are vulnerable to attacks by bandits and militants.
The states include Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, FCT, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau, Zamfara, and three others.
No less than 465 students, teachers, and women kidnapped in recent weeks are still in the hands of their captors.
Fifteen students from an Islamiya school in Sokoto State were kidnapped two weeks ago; less than 72 hours later, 287 learners and teachers were seized from the LEA primary school and the Government Secondary School in Kuriga, both in Kaduna State’s Chikun LGA.
On Friday, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, called on state governors to establish Safe School Response Coordination Centres to forestall attacks and kidnappings in schools.
Abodunrin noted that the registration by schools was a continuous effort, adding that the Federal Government was writing to state governors to remind the schools of the need to register.
“The Safe School project took off simultaneously in all states but in phases. It is a four-year project that is designed to address the issue squarely between 2023 and 2026. All security agencies are involved. It began with sensitisation and training of security personnel late last year.
“Schools are to register on www.nssrcc.gov.ng detailing their addresses and at least a phone number. Registration is free. Any registered school will automatically be on database with their coordinates for easy accessibility.
“Registration is a continuous process. As we speak, some may be registering. We have already informed the Minister of Education (State) and he is writing all governors to remind the schools in their states.
“We learnt some people are afraid that their registration may lead to taxation. This is not so. It is for the purposes of quick response and early warning when necessary.
“The figure of those that have registered is still far below expectations more than six months after hosting the website.”