By Adewole Kehinde
When the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, launched the Safe School Initiative in April 2025, he made a decisive statement: the safety of Nigeria’s children can no longer be left to chance.
Central to this initiative is the creation of the School Protection Squad (SPS), a specialised security formation designed to safeguard educational institutions from the growing threats of kidnapping, violent attacks, and other forms of insecurity plaguing schools across the country.
The Safe School Initiative, which has already been rolled out in states such as Delta, Edo, and Nasarawa, reflects a bold and necessary shift in Nigeria’s security strategy. It aims to move the nation from reactive responses to a proactive, technology-driven, intelligence-led model of protection—especially within our learning environments.
Key Features That Make the Initiative Critical
1. School Protection Squad (SPS):
The SPS is a dedicated team of specially trained officers tasked with ensuring the security of students, teachers, and school infrastructure. Their training equips them to respond swiftly and professionally to emergencies in any part of the federation.
2. Proactive Security Model:
Instead of waiting for attacks to occur, the initiative focuses on preventing them. This involves continuous surveillance, risk assessments, and routine patrols around school premises. This is the direction Nigeria must take if we are to curb the rising wave of school-based crimes.
3. Technology and Intelligence-Led Policing:
One of the most progressive elements of the Safe School Initiative is its emphasis on modern security technologies, surveillance systems, communication devices, real-time alert mechanisms, and data-driven intelligence tools. In a world where criminals are increasingly sophisticated, Nigeria cannot afford to maintain outdated methods. Technology must sit at the centre of school protection efforts.Â
4. Stakeholder Collaboration:
Security cannot thrive in a vacuum. IGP Egbetokun’s model rightly calls for strong collaboration between the police, school administrators, parents, community leaders, and even students. Reporting suspicious activities, enforcing access control, and maintaining community vigilance are essential pillars of this partnership.
5. National Rollout Strategy:
The phased rollout across various states shows that this is not a symbolic gesture; it is a carefully planned national security architecture designed to support both public and private schools.
6. Safe School Response Centre:
A 24-hour Safe School Response Centre has been established to provide rapid emergency support, ensuring that distress calls from any school in Nigeria receive immediate attention. This is one of the most reassuring aspects of the initiative.
Why Funding the SPS Must Be a Priority
The success of the Safe School Initiative hinges entirely on sustained funding. Training, equipment, mobility, communication infrastructure, and technological tools require consistent financial investment. Without adequate funding, the SPS risks becoming yet another promising idea that fails in execution.
If the security of schools is compromised, the security of Nigeria’s future is equally compromised. Every child taken, every school attacked, and every learning environment disrupted is a direct assault on national development.
The Federal Government Must Act Now
I call on the Federal Government to immediately provide robust financial backing for the School Protection Squad. This is not just a security concern; it is an economic, social, and moral responsibility. Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development when its children study in fear or stay away from school entirely due to insecurity.
A Call to Educational Stakeholders
While funding is crucial, collaboration is equally indispensable. I urge school administrators, teachers, parents, community leaders, and students to work hand in hand with the SPS. They must make full use of the dedicated hotlines and communication channels provided by the squad. Reporting suspicious activities or early signs of security breaches can prevent tragedies and save lives.
A Secure School System Is a Secure Nation
The future of Nigeria depends on the strength, safety, and stability of our educational institutions. The Safe School Initiative, supported by a well-funded, technologically equipped, intelligence-driven School Protection Squad, offers a realistic pathway to securing that future.
The Federal Government must therefore rise to the moment and provide all necessary funding to ensure that IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s vision becomes a lasting legacy of protection, peace, and national progress.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
