The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission – Relief Fund Trust (IHRC-RFT), Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, has raised concern over the increasing number of school closures across Nigeria due to insecurity, warning that shutting classrooms is not a sustainable solution.
In a statement on Wednesday, the security analyst said the frequent closure of schools poses a serious threat to children’s rights and the future of education in the country.
According to him, “the safety of students is important, but closing schools again and again cannot be the long-term answer. Education is a fundamental human right, and millions of children are already suffering learning gaps and psychological stress because of these interruptions.”
Adamu noted that repeated shutdowns in several states show deeper security and structural challenges that require urgent and strategic action rather than emergency decisions.
He urged federal and state governments to adopt a more proactive approach that keeps schools open while ensuring children’s safety.
Adamu recommended several measures, including strengthening community intelligence, deploying trained school safety marshals, and upgrading school infrastructure such as perimeter fencing, access control, CCTV systems, and emergency communication tools.
He also stressed the need to address the underlying drivers of insecurity, saying banditry and terrorism grow where poverty, unemployment, and weak governance exist. We must tackle these root causes.
The analyst further called for stronger cooperation among states, noting that criminals often operate across borders.
“A coordinated regional security framework is necessary to stop attackers from moving through weak zones,” he added.
Adamu warned that Nigeria cannot afford a future where children live in fear and parents lose confidence in the education system.
“Education must never collapse because of insecurity. Government, security agencies, civil society, traditional leaders, and citizens must all work together to keep schools safe and ensure learning continues.”
