By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani on Wednesday, stressed that security forces must hold regular meetings with elders, religious leaders, representatives of youth and women groups.
The Chief of Staff, Sani Kila represented Governor Uba Sani at the opening ceremony of a capacity building programme with the theme, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Community in the Protection of Education” at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.
“Consultative Committees on Security should be formed in communities, with membership drawn from security forces and key stakeholders”. He said.
Senator Uba Sani expressed sincere gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Audu Dabigi, PSC for inviting him to the important capacity building programme.
According to him, the theme of the Capacity Building programme, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education” is apt.
“No nation can achieve its human capital development goals, and infact make giant developmental strides if it fails to guarantee the safety and security of schools.
“And for you to effectively guarantee the safety and security of schools, you must build the capacity of security forces and communities to anticipate, prepare for, reduce the impact of, cope with, and recover from the effects of shocks and stresses”. He said.
Noting that, it follows therefore, that security forces must integrate host communities in their security plans and execute effective psychological operations to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Uba Sani commended the Federal Government for launching the N144.8 Billion Safe Schools Financing Plan in 2022.
He said, the plan was developed through rigorous consultative strategic engagements with all relevant stakeholders in the education and security sectors, at national and sub-national levels.
“It is gratifying to note that in furtherance of this plan, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun has established the Schools Protection Squad (SPS), a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria.
“Kaduna State is one of the states that has been waging a sustained battle against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality”.
“These non – state actors have disrupted socio – economic activities in the affected communities and are threatening our educational revitalization programme”.
“Kaduna State’s educational system is facing a crisis of declining enrolment, with over 200,000 fewer primary school pupils recorded in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year. This dramatic drop (from 2,111,969 in 2021/2022 to 1,734,704 in 2022/2023) is largely attributed to insecurity,” he said.
Governor Uba Sani disclosed that in several Local Government Areas (LGAs) particularly Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi insecurity has forced school consolidation, further pushing up the number of out-of-school children.
“Incidents like the kidnapping of 135 students from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government tragically illustrates the devastating impact of insecurity on education access and safety.
“To ensure that the education of our children in conflicts – prone and terrorists infested areas is not interrupted, we have commenced the merging of 359 schools with those in safe locations”.
“We are also implementing our SAFE SCHOOL PROGRAM to strengthen the security in our primary and secondary schools. We are collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force which is currently training a Schools Protection Squad (SPS)”.
“We have made adequate budgetary provision for effective implementation of our Safe School Programme,” he said.
Related
