Nasarawa, AGILE Convenes security meeting to fortify schools, protect students.

Timescope news 

The Nasarawa State Ministry of Education and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project have held a critical security meeting ,uniting education and security stakeholders to develop stronger protective measures for schools and project sites statewide.

The high-level meeting assembled a broad coalition, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), principals’ associations (ANCOPSS), School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs), religious bodies (JNI and CAN), the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), and security consultants

In his opening address, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. John D.W. Mamman, represented by Permanent Secretary Mallam Muhammed Sani Bala, described the forum as timely given nationwide security challenges facing schools. He stressed that safeguarding students and protecting educational infrastructure is a shared duty requiring proactive collaboration and vigilance from all parties.

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Security and Sundry Matters, CP Baba Usman, outlined the state’s proactive policing approach, known as the “Abidden System,” which involves regular police patrols between schools to deter threats and ensure rapid response.

Major General A.T. Umar (Rtd), AGILE’s Lead Security Consultant, disclosed that a comprehensive Security Management Plan (SMP) developed by Watchdogs Consultancy Firm is now in place. The plan provides detailed guidance on securing students, staff, host communities, and educational assets.

Presentations from the NSCDC and Nigerian Police highlighted practical measures such as installing perimeter fencing, training security guards, deploying safety equipment, and creating dedicated communication channels for timely threat reporting. The police also emphasized the need for better rural road networks to improve emergency access.

Stakeholders from PTAs, ANCOPSS, NCWS, SBMCs, and religious organizations unanimously called for sustained collaboration and collective commitment to school safety, alongside continued prayers for peace in the state and nation.

Concluding the summit, AGILE Project Coordinator Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu Isoga thanked participants for their engaged contributions toward making Nasarawa’s schools safer.

The meeting culminated in the adoption of a concrete action plan to reinforce security architecture and combat insecurity in educational institutions across the state.