The safety and security of schools across the country will continue to be the primary concern for the police, according to Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police (IGP).

At the opening of a safe school training program for state coordinators and divisional police officers (DPOs) in Abuja, he made this statement.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the occasion also included the unveiling of platforms, automobiles, and supplies for the safe school initiative.

According to Egbetokun, the program’s objective was to give state coordinators and DPOs around the country a thorough understanding of the national plans for the Safe Schools project as well as practical tactics for implementing them.

He claims that its goal is to develop a clear plan for cooperation between law enforcement and other key players in order to provide a safer learning environment for students.

He also said the unveiling of the equipments was to enhance the human and material resources of the Nigeria Police in engaging on crimes, particularly those plotting against educational institutions.

“We are committed to implementing measures and utilising our resources to diminish the threats facing students, staff, and educational facilities across the country.

“The current police administration has established the Special Intervention Squad to swiftly address and counteract criminal activities nationwide.

“This squad will operate in support of the School Protection Squad to ensure that the country’s educational facilities remain free from danger and unwelcome incidents”

Asserting that the knowledge and skills gained will have a direct bearing on the caliber of services provided, the IG advised the participants to approach the training with the utmost seriousness.

The National Coordinator, Financing Safe Schools Secretariat, Mrs. Halima Iliya, stated in her remarks that although the Nigerian educational system has always been in severe difficulty, the kidnapping of pupils constituted a significant extensional threat to the institution.

She added that a large portion of the nation’s out-of-school youth may be attributed to the problem.

The coordinator proposed the creation of a legislative framework to provide long-term support for addressing the issues.

A problem to achieving safe schools in the nation, according to Iliya, is the lack of financial channels from budgetary allocations by the federal and subnational governments.