Niger State Upgrading Security in Public Schools Amid Insecurity Concerns
The Niger State Government has announced that plans have been finalised to upgrade security infrastructure in public schools located in insecurity-prone local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, disclosed this on Thursday in Minna during a dissemination meeting on the report titled “The Impact of Insecurity on Access to Education in Niger State” held at Haske Luxury Hotel.
She applauded UNICEF and other development partners for their technical input and unwavering support, noting that the state is also working to dismantle barriers to learning caused by insecurity.
Dr. Asabe revealed that out of the schools earlier shut down due to insecurity, 29 have been reopened and 20 renovated after suffering extensive damage. She stressed that early warning systems will soon be established in public schools within vulnerable areas.
“The state government has decided to relocate many of the affected schools in high-risk areas to safer locations,” she said.
“As a government, we will ensure we tackle the root causes of insecurity through social welfare programmes for conflict-affected households. Plans are underway to upgrade security infrastructure in schools and to establish early warning systems in vulnerable areas.”
Representing UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, Education Specialist Mr. Believe Eke underscored the importance of the study presented at the meeting, saying it aimed to provide evidence-based insights for effective policymaking and to ensure quality education for children in conflict-affected communities.
The Education Secretaries of Shiroro and Rafi LGAs, Usaini Baba and Ahmed Madaki respectively, reported that the security situation in their areas has improved compared to three years ago. Madaki noted that during the peak of bandit attacks, 34 schools in Rafi LGA were shut down, but 24 have since reopened while others have been relocated to safer environments.
The event featured the unveiling of detailed reports and recommendations geared toward strengthening educational access and resilience in the face of insecurity.
