By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Ogun State Government has activated the Safe School Initiative in line with the Federal Government’s directive, as part of efforts to enhance the security of students, teachers and other school personnel amid growing security concerns across the country.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
Arigbabu said the initiative is being implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach involving security agencies, host communities and relevant government institutions to strengthen safety in public schools across the state.
According to him, the state has constituted a Safe School Committee to coordinate the implementation of the initiative and complement existing security measures.
“That is the national directive by the Honourable Minister of Education that we should activate the Safe School Initiative in all states of the federation in line with what the Federal Government is doing. We have therefore set up a Safe School Committee comprising various stakeholders participating in the initiative,” he said.
The commissioner said the move was in response to increasing attacks on schools and the growing incidence of kidnappings across the country, which have heightened concerns over the safety of students and education workers.
He explained that although security remains the responsibility of the Federal Government, Ogun State is strengthening existing security arrangements through school-specific interventions.
“Security is a national issue and it is being addressed nationally, but at the same time, different state governments have their own security initiatives. What we are doing is extending those measures specifically to our schools,” he said.
Arigbabu disclosed that the state government had commenced plans to fence public schools in phases, describing perimeter fencing as one of several protective measures under the initiative.
“We are ensuring that schools without perimeter fences are captured in a phased programme. We have already carried out estimates and assessed the cost implications because many of our schools are not fenced.
“Providing fences is only one layer of protection. It is not the complete solution because fences can be scaled or broken, but they still serve as an important security barrier,” he said.
He also revealed that all school administrators had been directed to register their schools with the nearest police divisions to facilitate rapid response during emergencies.
According to him, school heads now maintain direct communication with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), while periodic security meetings are held with law enforcement agencies to assess emerging threats.
“We have ensured that school heads register their schools with nearby police stations and have the phone numbers of the DPOs, while the police also have their contacts. Regular meetings are held to review security issues, while the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor coordinates broader security initiatives involving all security agencies,” he said.
The commissioner noted that although security personnel had been deployed around some schools, it would not be feasible to station armed officers in every school across the state.
“In some schools, you will see policemen stationed close to the school or at the entrances. But we cannot deploy policemen and Amotekun personnel to every school because security personnel are also needed to protect our communities,” he added.
Arigbabu identified surveillance, regular patrols and community participation as key pillars of the Safe School Initiative, noting that increased public vigilance was helping to deter criminal activities.
“Surveillance and patrols are important components of the initiative. Community leaders have also been very supportive by organising security meetings. People are becoming more security-conscious. When strangers enter a community, residents now ask questions, and that level of vigilance discourages criminal elements,” he said.
He further assured residents that schools located in rural and border communities considered more vulnerable to attacks were receiving enhanced security attention.
Recalling a recent visit to Yewa, the commissioner said he observed increased deployment of police officers and operatives of the Amotekun Corps around schools in the area.
“Rural schools are receiving more attention. I visited one of the schools in Yewa last week and saw policemen and Amotekun personnel on duty. I particularly appreciated the Divisional Police Officer because security arrangements in those communities are different from what you find in the urban centres.
“These local and border communities receive special attention because they are more vulnerable to security threats,” he said.
Arigbabu reiterated the state’s commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment for every child, stressing that the government would continue collaborating with security agencies, host communities and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of schools across Ogun State.
