The Nigerian Senate has called on state governors to embrace the Safe-School initiative as an immediate measure to protect students and schools from attacks.
The chamber described the programme as a stop-gap option pending the establishment of state police, which is part of the ongoing constitutional amendment under consideration by the National Assembly.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele made the appeal in a statement issued by his Media Office on Sunday, May 18, 2026, while condemning the abduction of students in Borno and Oyo states.
He explained that the initiative, launched in 2014 after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, was designed to safeguard schools through federal and state-led coordination.
Background Of The Safe-School Programme
The Safe-School initiative was introduced to protect students, teachers, and school infrastructure from attacks. It involved agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Safe School Parents Watch Network.
Despite billions of naira committed to its implementation, reports show that not less than $30 million has been spent on the programme, which has largely ceased to function across states. Rising cases of student kidnappings have been linked to its collapse.
Last November, the Senate constituted a 13-member ad hoc committee chaired by Orji Uzor Kalu to investigate how the funds were utilised. The committee has yet to submit its findings. Bamidele insisted that both federal and state governments should revive the initiative while awaiting the creation of state police.
“Before the state police became effective, the leader of the senate challenged both federal and state governments to embrace and implement the safe school initiative as a stop-gap measure to address the number of out-of-school children, currently standing at 18.3 million across the federation,” the statement read.
Recent Abductions In Oyo And Borno
On Friday, suspected gunmen abducted 45 students and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Within the same period, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting 42 students.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, condemned the incidents.
“The incessant abduction of students and teachers is a tragic national concern that negates our national development indices. We cannot and must not allow it to continue. At the National Assembly, we will rise against this trend and put an end to it through the instrumentality of legislation,” he said.
He added that once plenary resumes on June 2, lawmakers will deliberate on outstanding measures to address insecurity, including the introduction of state police and amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“As soon as the National Assembly resumes plenaries on June 2, we will perfect all outstanding legislative initiatives that have been introduced to decisively address security challenges in the federation,” he said.
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