The Nigeria Police Force has met with stakeholders to demonstrate a collective commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Lagos schools.
The 2-day stakeholders’ forum on the security of schools in Lagos State and training of the School Protection Squad (SPS) was held on Monday at the POWA Hall, Ikeja.
The theme of the forum is “Strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education”.
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said that school insecurity was a direct threat to global peace and human capital development.
“School insecurity is not only a breach of the right to education, it is a direct threat to global peace and human capital development.
“A safe school is where a culture of safety for our students, teachers, staff and host communities is integrated in the security architecture of schools.
“Education is recognised as a cornerstone of individual and societal development across the world as it empowers individuals and paves the way for economic progress.
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“As we launch the SPS, we mark a significant stride towards an all-inclusive approach to school safety, ” he said.
Egbetokun was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Adegoke Fayoade.
He said that the initiative would involve training programmes for educators, administrators, and security personnel, who would in turn leverage the acquired skills to recognise and respond to security threats.
“We will also make use of modern technology and intelligence-led policing to ensure a proactive law enforcement presence around our schools,” he said.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, said the need to continue to fortify the security of educational institutions was important.
“There is a need to collaborate to safeguard schools.
“The police cannot do this alone. The integration of host communities—parents, local leaders, and residents—into our security framework is of great significance.
“The role of our school proprietors is very germane in ensuring security in our schools through the lookout for early warning signals and informing the police in your localities to address the situation before it gets out of hand.
“I urge you to prioritise regular safety drills with police SPS, create awareness programs, and open communication channels with parents and security agencies.
“To the students and pupils here today, you are the heartbeat of this initiative. Your education is our priority, and your safety is our obligation and mission. I encourage you to stay vigilant, report suspicious activities, ” Jimoh said.
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The National Coordinator on Financing Safe School Programme, Halimah Iliya, said that I-G Egbetokun had established a special squad dedicated to safe schools to enhance security in schools.
She said that strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education was one of the objectives of the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools.
The Commissioner of Police, SPS, Abayomi Shogunle, attributed the increasing out of school children to insecurity challenges.
He said that the forum’s theme aligned with the national plan on financing safe schools in Nigeria.
“The plan has a national investment response aimed at protecting schools, learners, teachers and non-teaching staff from attacks in all parts of Nigeria.
“It was designed to achieve measurable outcomes such as reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving Nigeria’s rating in the human capital index in the long run,” he said.
Shogunle said that the objectives were to enhance the capacity of security agencies to gather intelligence, prevent, and respond to attacks on educational institutions and to provide assistance to survivors of attacks on educational institutions, ” he said.
According to him, the NPF now has a 24/7 functioning Emergency Centre dedicated to responding to school emergencies.
“In case of school emergency in any part of Nigeria, such as attacks on schools, on hostels, student kidnapping, and other threats, call 08077357777,” he said.
