Atiku Abubakar challenges Federal Government on ₦144.86bn Safe Schools Fund amid widespread school closures

His demand follows reports that insecurity has led to school closures in approximately 40 local government areas. Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, stated that the continued disruption of education by terrorists and other armed groups highlights a failure in the government's approach to securing schools, especially given Nigeria's existing out-of-school crisis. He questioned the effectiveness of the Safe Schools programme if children and teachers cannot attend school without fear.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, requested a comprehensive account of the funds, including amounts mobilised, agencies and contractors involved, schools covered, security infrastructure delivered, and measurable results. He argued that financial accountability alone is insufficient, advocating for a shift from a centralised, Abuja-driven approach to a security system that integrates intelligence from local communities. He proposed functional early-warning and rapid-response systems, improved intelligence sharing, and clearly defined security and emergency-response arrangements for high-risk institutions.

Atiku linked the issue to the abduction of students and staff in Borno State, citing incidents in Lassa and Mussa, and stressed that protecting education is a