Nigeria Establishes Safe Schools Department for Student Safety

The Federal Ministry of Education, led by Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa, has established a new Safe Schools Department aimed at enhancing the safety of students across Nigeria. This department replaces the former Safe Schools Unit and will provide strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight of school safety initiatives nationwide.

Alausa made this announcement while addressing the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative. He explained that the ministry's approach will involve a unified national framework to improve implementation, accountability, and monitoring of safety programs across Nigeria's 774 local government areas.

The ministry is collaborating with various security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to bolster protection around schools. Alausa emphasized the need for a cohesive strategy in addressing the security and welfare challenges faced by learners, stating that the Federal Ministry of Education will provide policy direction and ensure that all schools benefit from the initiative.