65 Schools Shut: HURIWA demands probe of “missing” safe schools billions
HUMAN Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has declared the mass closure of schools across northern Nigeria a national disgrace and a damning indictment of the government’s failure to protect Nigerian children, demanding an immediate forensic investigation into the billions of naira reportedly allocated to the Safe Schools Initiative.
HURIWA’s demand follows findings that at least 65 primary and secondary schools have been shut or rendered non-functional across northern Nigeria, with insecurity forcing thousands of children out of classrooms.
The rights group asked the Federal Government and the National Assembly a blunt question:
WHERE DID THE SAFE SCHOOLS BILLIONS GO?
More than a decade after the Safe Schools Initiative was launched in response to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, terrorists, bandits and kidnappers are still dictating where Nigerian children can and cannot receive education.
In Sokoto State alone, schools in 20 of the state’s 23 local government areas have reportedly been shut indefinitely over security concerns.
HURIWA described this as an intolerable national failure, particularly against the background of the huge financial commitments announced for school security.
The organisation said Nigerians have a right to know what happened to the money appropriated and released to make schools safe.
Who received the funds? Who administered them? What contracts were awarded? What security infrastructure was delivered? How many schools were actually secured? And who should be held accountable for the glaring failure?
HURIWA said these questions can no longer be swept under the carpet.
The organisation noted that the Federal Government’s National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023–2026 projected ₦144.86 billion for the programme, comprising ₦32.58 billion in 2023, ₦36.98 billion in 2024, ₦37.15 billion in 2025 and ₦38.03 billion in 2026.
It further recalled reports that more than $30 million had been mobilised for the Safe Schools Initiative since its establishment.
Yet, despite these enormous financial commitments, Nigerian children are increasingly being driven away from schools by armed groups.
HURIWA says this contradiction is too enormous to ignore and too dangerous to explain away as merely a security challenge.
The organisation therefore demands that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) immediately launch a joint forensic investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative.
The investigation must trace every naira and every dollar allocated, released or donated to the programme.
It must establish what was budgeted, what was released, who received the funds, what contracts were executed, what projects were delivered and what became of every outstanding allocation.
HURIWA said anyone found to have diverted, stolen, inflated contracts, abandoned projects or otherwise abused funds meant to protect Nigerian children must face prosecution.
Those who steal money meant to protect children’s lives and education must not be allowed to hide behind government offices, political connections or bureaucratic excuses.
The National Assembly, HURIWA said, must also explain why it has not subjected the Safe Schools Initiative to the level of scrutiny demanded by the worsening crisis.
What exactly has the National Assembly been doing while schools are shutting down?
HURIWA challenged both chambers of the National Assembly to immediately summon the relevant ministers, agencies, programme managers and contractors involved in the initiative and conduct a public and transparent hearing into its finances and performance.
The organisation warned that every additional day a school remains closed is another day Nigeria’s children are denied their future.
The consequences, it said, extend far beyond missed lessons.
Prolonged school closures create fertile ground for child labour, early marriage, trafficking, recruitment into criminal and extremist networks, radicalisation and permanent educational exclusion.
HURIWA said Nigeria cannot claim to be fighting insecurity while allowing insecurity to destroy the country’s education system.
A government that cannot keep children safe enough to attend school is failing one of its most basic responsibilities.
The organisation therefore demanded an emergency national response involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the 36 State Ministries of Education and the FCT education authorities.
The response must include credible security deployment, intelligence-led protection of vulnerable schools, safe transportation, emergency learning centres, protection for teachers, secure boarding arrangements and continuous independent monitoring of high-risk schools.
HURIWA also demanded that any funds recovered from corrupt officials or contractors be ring-fenced exclusively for rebuilding and securing affected schools.
The rights group insisted that the Safe Schools Initiative must no longer operate as another opaque government programme where huge sums are announced while the intended beneficiaries remain exposed.
Enough is enough.
Nigerian children must not become victims twice — first of terrorism and banditry, and then of corruption and official impunity.
HURIWA therefore calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally order a comprehensive audit of the Safe Schools Initiative and publish the findings for Nigerians to see.
The EFCC and ICPC must investigate.
The National Assembly must probe.
Those responsible must be prosecuted.
Looted funds must be recovered.
And every affected school must be made safe.
The money allocated to protect our children must protect our children — not the pockets of government officials, contractors or their political allies.
Nigeria’s children have waited long enough.
Their classrooms must be reopened. Their schools must be secured. Their future must not be stolen.
