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The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has said that although attacks on schools across the country have reduced, sustained collaboration with key stakeholders remains critical to fully tackling the menace.
Audi made the remarks on Thursday while leading a high-powered delegation of senior NSCDC officers on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
According to him, the visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between both institutions through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would provide a framework for inter-agency training, enhance the capacity of NSCDC training institutions, and reinforce security within Nigeria’s educational sector.
The NSCDC boss said the Corps was particularly interested in partnering with TETFund to upgrade its six training institutions, including the College of Security Management in Abeokuta, to support career progression and world-class development for officers.
He noted that while school attacks were once rampant, especially in the early 2000s and during the Chibok girls’ abduction, recent interventions such as the Safe School Initiative had helped to curb the trend.
“If you have been following the trajectory, you would see that attacks were very high around 2001 to 2003. Things escalated again during the Chibok girls’ incident, which led to the Safe School Initiative and safe school financing. Recently, the attacks have reduced, although we still observe some pockets, which are under control,” Audi said.
He stressed that school security cannot be handled by one agency alone, describing it as a “whole-of-society approach” involving security agencies, education authorities, school communities, and traditional institutions.
Highlighting key challenges, Audi disclosed that a recent survey identified over 81,000 schools nationwide, with more than 60,000 lacking basic security infrastructure such as fencing and guards.
“The entire NSCDC has about 63,000 personnel. Even if we deploy one officer per school, including the Commandant General, it will still not be enough. That is why collaboration with all stakeholders is essential,” he explained.
He added that the Corps was working closely with other security agencies to ensure early detection and containment of threats to schools.
In his response, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing what he described as a visionary leadership at the helm of the NSCDC, acknowledging the Corps’ contributions to national stability.
“Security is a fundamental pillar for the success of any educational intervention. We recognize the silent and tireless work the NSCDC does to keep this nation safe,” Echono said.
He assured that TETFund was committed to supporting the Corps through the proposed MoU, including assistance with training infrastructure and provision of specialized security training for TETFund staff.
Addressing questions on funding and the Education Tax framework, Echono revealed that TETFund had recorded over a 100 percent increase in funding under the current administration, attributing the growth to President Tinubu’s support.
“Under this administration, TETFund has experienced more than 100 percent growth in funding. What we received last year was huge, and what we expect this year is also encouraging,” he said, while noting that increasing responsibilities, including the establishment of new institutions and expanded collaborations, had also raised operational demands.
Echono also thanked Nigerians for supporting reforms that strengthened the Education Tax Law, describing TETFund as a critical national institution that must be protected and sustained to deliver quality education nationwide.
