By Onyeanya Immaculata
The Safe Schools Project has recorded a sharp increase in participation, with 14,685 schools now registered nationwide amid rising insecurity and recurring attacks on educational institutions.
The figure marks a significant rise from 11,550 schools registered a month earlier, according to the Commander of the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre, Gen. Emmanuel Ocheja, who confirmed the development on Saturday.
“As of today, 14,685 schools are officially registered on the Safe Schools monitoring platform, reflecting a growing surge in enrolment,” Ocheja said.
The increase follows recent mass abductions that have heightened concerns over school safety, particularly in rural communities.
On November 17, 2025, gunmen attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 24 students and killing the vice-principal.
Days later, attackers stormed St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting hundreds of pupils and staff. Authorities later confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken.
In response, Ocheja said additional security personnel would be deployed to schools from 2026 to strengthen protection nationwide.
The Safe Schools Project was launched in 2014 following the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to enhance security in schools.
However, implementation challenges persist, as many schools remain vulnerable despite a N144.8 billion allocation to the programme between 2023 and 2026, with only part of the funds released.
Currently, about 30 states are yet to implement the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Project, despite continued attacks on schools across the country.
