Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Lead Resource for Safe Schools Lagos, has urged the Federal Government to establish a harmonised, legally binding national school safety policy to tackle the persistent abduction of schoolchildren across Nigeria. She made this appeal during a special session of the Renewed Hope global virtual town hall conference, themed ‘Safe schools, secure nation: Advancing the renewed hope agenda.’
Reactive Approach Criticised
Akin-Alabi noted that Nigeria’s current strategy for protecting schools is largely reactive rather than preventive. Under the existing framework, government action is triggered only after an attack occurs, often involving mobilisation of security assets post-breach, reliance on ad hoc emergency funding, and limited local coordination, leaving schools vulnerable.
Proposed Physical Infrastructure Standards
To change this, she proposed a new framework mandating every institution to adopt physical infrastructure designed to prevent intrusion. Non-negotiable minimum standards include mandatory 2.5-metre reinforced perimeter walls topped with concertina wire, fortified entry gates capable of stopping vehicle-borne attacks, and independent, solar-powered satellite panic alarms.
Meeting these standards requires reliable power, so she announced plans to leverage funding from the ‘connecting the unconnected network’ to extend solar power and rural electrification to vulnerable schools. This ensures security systems like alarms and surveillance remain functional even in communities without electricity.
Legal Framework and Funding
Beyond physical infrastructure, Akin-Alabi stressed the need for an enforceable legal framework with strict accountability for compliance. Any national policy must be backed by guaranteed, ring-fenced funding sent directly to schools to avoid bureaucratic delays. Without dedicated financing and clear sanctions for non-compliance, guidelines remain on paper, leaving schools exposed.
Integrated Community Intel Approach
The expert also advocated for an ‘integrated community intel’ approach, linking parents and teachers’ associations, local leaders, and rapid-response security sectors through technology. Integrating these tools would bypass damaged infrastructure and transform passive bystanders into active first responders, enabling tactical interception before abductors escape.
The cumulative effect of these measures would remove the element of surprise that kidnappers rely on. Reinforced walls and gates delay attacks, fortified entry points deny vehicular entry, and real-time alarm systems linked to communities shorten response time. The goal is to create genuine safe havens where learning can occur without fear.
Sustaining the Initiative
Outlining sustainability, Akin-Alabi said the initiative must be built on continuous sensitisation, regular evaluation, and independent inspection. She proposed equipping schoolchildren with body-mounted safeguarding monitors and providing continuous professional development for teachers, school administrators, and community stakeholders, ensuring everyone understands their role when a threat arises.
“For decades, our approach to protecting our children has been crippled by a fragmented, voluntary patchwork of regional guidelines. We must replace that vulnerability with a singular, legally binding mandate: the Unified National School Safety Code,” she stated.
Akin-Alabi urged all institutions to embed disaster readiness into daily routines. “Every school must operate on identical, standardised active-threat response protocols. Whether facing a security breach, fire, or climate-induced flood, staff and students must know their exact moves. Compliance must be mandatory, funding must be guaranteed, and accountability must be absolute.”
