Pix: Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi
THE Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi has directed the state coordinators of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), commanders of Special Female Squad (SFS) and other men and officers of the corps to intensify efforts towards protecting educational institutions which are among the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).
Audi gave the directive in Abuja, while reiterating that NSCDC is a lead agency in the protection of CNAI, hence, commensurate response must be developed to end the menace of attacks on schools.
He frowned at the renewed spate of attacks on schools and in the country, saying all personnel must join in the protection of schools or resign.
Represented by the deputy commandant-general in Charge of Administration, Adeyinka Fasiu Ayinla, the CG decried the recent attacks on schools in Kaduna and Sokoto States, where many pupils, students and a teacher were abducted,
He stressed that the meeting was to place those specifically charged with the responsibilities of schools safety and security to be on their toes and assured them of maximum support.
The NSCDC boss also re-echoed the need for all schools in the country to register with the centre through its website and reach the centre via some designated phone numbers that were made available to participants.
He emphasised the need for all state coordinators of NSSRCC and commanders of Special Female Squad to participate in all meetings of ‘The Parents-Teachers Association’ and establish cordial working relationships with school communities and the traditional institutions to win their trust and confidence.
He noted that it could lead to free information sharing which might, in turn, facilitate swift response in distress.
Earlier in his remarks, the commander of the NSSRCC, Commandant, Dr Hammed Abodunrin, explained that the centre is meant to ensure the safety of schools, adding that it gathers information from different locations and disseminates them to where such information will be acted upon.
Abodunrin maintained that different security agencies with the mandate of protecting schools, such as Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Armed Forces and Defence Intelligence Agency, are all represented at the centre
He called on schools in the country to ensure the passage of timely information to the centre for immediate response.
On her part, Commander Special Female Squad, Assistant Commandant of Corps Oluwakemi Imonikhe, said the squad is designed to support the Federal Government’s Safe Schools implementation project, adding that they visit schools to sensitise pupils, students, and teachers among others on what to be done for enhanced security.
She stressed the need to have functional CCTV in schools, adding that they have visited the federal ministry of education for that purpose.
She further called on parents and guardians to continue to educate their children and wards on safety and security measures in schools, assuring that the squad will continue to ensure maximum protection in all educational institutions in the country.