Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
The Federal Government has taken an important step to enhance security and improve living conditions in Unity Schools.
To this end, and to ensure the safety of students and staff, it has allocated N20 billion for perimeter fencing in all 118 Federal Unity Colleges.
This is in addition to setting aside another N20 billion to address the issue of irregular power supply in all Unity Schools nationwide.
An analysis of the 2025 budget showed that the two new projects are domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Education.
Titled ‘Provision of security infrastructure in 118 Unity Colleges: Perimeter NEW Fencing’ and ‘Provision of security infrastructure in 118 Unity Colleges: Solar NEW’, both projects will cost N20 billion each.
In 2021, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Save the Children International, reported that over 1,000 students were abducted from Nigerian schools.
The number included 80 pupils and five teachers kidnapped from Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri, Kebbi State.
Reacting to the development, the President-General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), Michael Magaji, applauded the Nigerian government for the initiative. The move, he said, will improve the learning experience of students.
“This is well appreciated. It will give the children more time to read and improve their learning experience and learning outcomes. Security and protecting the lives of our children in school is key.
“Children and teachers should also be taught how to be security-conscious and how to report the same to the relevant authorities when they suspect there is a potential breach of security in and around the school environment,” Magaji said.
On the provision of solar-powered electricity, the President-General said, “This is a good initiative that will support learning. We call on the Federal Government to also extend the same to the teachers’ quarters, where there have been instances where schools have had no power supply for months.”
