The federal government spent over N7 billion to provide security for the 108 unity schools in the country between 2017 and 2018.
The minister of education, Mr. Adamu Adamu who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while briefing the media on the policies, programmes and activities of the federal government in the education sector, said the amount was for beefing up security through provision of security infrastructure for the schools.
He explained that government embarked on the security infrastructure project in the schools because of insecurity in the north east occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgents as well as incidents of kidnapping in parts of the country.
“Against the backdrop of insecurity in the northeast, occasioned by Boko Haram as well as incidents of kidnapping in parts of the country, the Federal Government has decided to provide basic security facilities in our Unity Schools,” he said.
Adamu explained that during the period, the federal government provided perimeter fencing in the schools that were yet to have one, CCTV cameras within the school premises, as well as street lights powered by solar systems and modern security gates, among others, were also put in place.
He noted that the security infrastructure project in unity schools began in 2017 with the appropriation of N5 billion for security facilities to be provided for 65 unity schools, while N2,025,811,972.99 was provided for the facilities for 39 schools in the 2018 budget.
He said the Ministerial Tenders Board had already approved the award of contracts for the provision of the security facilities, adding that in the coming weeks, contractors would begin to mobilize to their various sites.
Adamu, who gave a breakdown of schools to benefit from the intervention, explained that the briefing was part of efforts by the government to be accountable to Nigerians.
He added that the government would keep the people abreast of what the current administration was doing to improve infrastructure in unity schools.
“The reason for briefing you and by extension, Nigerians, is that, as far as I am concerned, the best and only way to be accountable to the Nigerian people is through the media.
“Now that we have put these efforts of government in public glare, it will keep Nigerians abreast of what the Buhari administration is doing to improve infrastructure in our Unity Schools, as well as provide a secure environment for our children in these schools.
“Secondly, it will also enable civil society groups and communities where these schools are located to monitor the implementation of the projects. Thirdly, it will enable you the media to give the Nigerian public the progress report on the implementation of these projects from time to time,” he said.
