The Federal Government has unveiled plans to strengthen security in schools located in border and riverine communities under the Safe Schools Transition Plan for 2026–2030, aimed at creating safer learning environments nationwide.

The strategy, recently approved by the government, seeks to deepen collaboration among security agencies, state governments, and local communities, while expanding psychosocial support and emergency preparedness for students and teachers, sources told Press on Tuesday.

A senior official involved in the project said the plan will prioritise vulnerable locations, ensuring security training and infrastructure reach border and riverine areas.

“For the new transition plan 2026–2030, we will be looking at the border communities and the riverine areas to ensure that training gets there. This is to ensure the security architecture is fully on board,” the official said.

Another staff member added, “Yes, it is true. We plan on building the security resilience of the entire host communities.”

The Safe Schools Project was launched in 2014 following the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, under the initiative of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, in partnership with the Nigerian Global Business Coalition for Education and private-sector stakeholders.

The programme is coordinated alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser and is designed to create a secure and enabling environment for living, teaching, and learning.

In December 2022, the Federal Government launched the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023–2026, with a proposed investment of N144.8bn.

Measures included the establishment of the School Protection Squad, deployment of command and control officers nationwide, and the creation of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre to ensure swift response to attacks. Safe Schools Coordinators and Desk Officers were also appointed in all 36 states and 774 local government areas.

Despite these initiatives, attacks on schools remain a concern. In December 2025, the Senate launched an investigation into the Safe Schools Project, noting continued vulnerability to raids, mass kidnappings, and deadly attacks.

Data from the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre shows a sharp rise in school registrations under the programme, from 11,550 in November 2025 to 14,685 by December, following attacks such as the November 17, 2025 assault on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, where 24 students were abducted and the vice-principal killed, and the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, four days later, in which 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted.

Officials noted that most states are yet to fully implement the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Project, highlighting the need for continued commitment to protecting students and educators nationwide.