Gov Otti Deepens Partnership with NSCDC to Strengthen Safe School Initiative in Abia

By Ezechukwu Adimoha

ABIA – Governor Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC on the Safe School Initiative to enhance security across schools in the state.

Governor Otti gave the assurance while receiving the Commander of the National Safe School Project, Dr Umanah Aniedi, and his delegation at his office in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

The Governor noted that his administration has prioritized the safety of schools through deliberate investments in educational infrastructure. He disclosed that perimeter fencing, security gates and the deployment of security personnel have become minimum requirements for all rehabilitated and newly constructed public schools in the state.

He explained that some schools initially renovated without perimeter fencing were subsequently upgraded to meet the required security standard.

Governor Otti also announced that the long-standing request by the NSCDC to establish a command and control centre in the state had already been approved.

According to him, the objective of the proposed centre has effectively been addressed through the state’s existing emergency response infrastructure, explaining that Abia already operates a central emergency call centre through the toll-free number 112, which coordinates responses to security threats, accidents, fires and other emergencies.

Earlier in his remarks, Dr Umanah Aniedi disclosed that 4,150 schools in Abia State had been registered on the National Safe School Platform. He said the figure comprises 2,710 nursery and primary schools and 1,440 junior and senior secondary schools across both public and private institutions.

He explained that the visit was to formally present the four-year statutory work plan for the domestication and implementation of the Safe School Initiative in Abia State. He also invited Governor Otti to visit the National Safe School Response and Coordination Centre in Abuja to further strengthen collaboration.

Also speaking, the Abia State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Chukwuemeka Odimba, expressed confidence that the initiative would succeed in the state. He disclosed that he had already visited tertiary institutions across Abia and commenced collaboration with their managements.

He further revealed that the command had designed specialized security training programmes for personnel involved in the initiative and thanked the Governor for providing operational vehicles dedicated to the Safe School Initiative and the protection of critical national assets.

An Information and Communication Technology official of the National Safe School Response Centre, Mr Felix Ikor, stated that a digital platform had been developed under the initiative for nationwide school safety monitoring. He disclosed that more than 169,000 schools had so far been registered on the platform in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Secretary to Abia State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah, alongside other government officials, were present during the visit.