Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over reports that schools in about 40 local government areas have been shut due to insecurity, calling it proof of failure to protect Nigerian children and their right to education.

Reacting on Tuesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the closures raised serious questions about the ₦144.86 billion National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023–2026.

“At a time when Nigeria is already battling a severe out-of-school crisis, insecurity is driving even more children out of the classroom,” the statement said.

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“If schools across about 40 LGAs cannot operate because government cannot guarantee the safety of pupils and teachers, Nigerians are entitled to ask: where is the ₦144.86 billion Safe Schools programme in all of this?

“Budgeting money is not the same as securing schools. Announcing programmes is not the same as protecting children. The true test of a Safe Schools programme is whether our children can actually go to school safely. By that test, the present approach is failing.”

Atiku challenged the Presidency to publish a full account of the programme, including funds mobilised and released, agencies and contractors that received money, schools covered, security infrastructure delivered, and measurable outcomes.

But the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said accounting alone will not solve the problem.

“What Nigeria requires is a completely different security philosophy. Under my administration, school security will not be treated as another Abuja contract-awarding programme. It will be integrated into a decentralised, intelligence-led security architecture built around the communities where these schools exist,” he said.

He proposed functional early-warning and rapid-response systems around vulnerable schools, stronger intelligence sharing between schools, communities and security agencies, and clearly defined emergency plans for high-risk schools.

“Local communities know their terrain. They see warning signs before Abuja does. Our security architecture will make that local intelligence part of the national response, rather than leaving communities helpless until after an attack,” Atiku said.

He added that every naira spent on school security must have measurable outcomes.

“Nigerians will know which schools have been protected, what infrastructure was provided, who maintains it, and which security formations are accountable. Safe Schools will be measured by children in classrooms, not billions in government documents.”

Atiku warned that closing schools fueled poverty, child labour, early marriage, exploitation and radicalisation.

“Every child driven from the classroom becomes more vulnerable to the same criminal and extremist networks government claims to be fighting. Protecting education is itself a national security strategy.”

He described it as indefensible that after repeated attacks and abductions, Nigeria could commit huge resources to Safe Schools and still end the implementation period with armed groups deciding if schools open.

Citing Borno, he noted that 36 students and a staff member of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba LGA were abducted during exams in late June, while 42 pupils reportedly remain missing after the May 15 attack in Mussa.

“When terrorists can decide whether Nigerian children go to school, they are exercising authority that belongs to the Nigerian state. That is not just an education crisis. It is a surrender of state authority,” he said.

“And since Mr President says his government knows the forests where these kidnappers operate, Nigerians are entitled to ask: what exactly are they still doing there?

“Mr President should detail his security forces to those forests, rescue these children, and bring their abductors to justice. Intelligence that identifies where terrorists are but does not lead to rescue is of little comfort to parents.”

Atiku said his approach would link school security to broader decentralisation of security, with communities involved in intelligence gathering and rapid response.

“Our alternative is straightforward: secure the communities, empower local intelligence, protect vulnerable schools, respond rapidly to threats, measure results, and account for every naira.

“President Tinubu must also account for the ₦144.86 billion and explain why, after all the announcements, Nigerian parents are still choosing between educating their children and keeping them alive.

“A government cannot announce billions for Safe Schools and expect applause while terrorists shut the schools. Budgetary allocations are not achievements. Press conferences do not protect children. The only result that matters is that a Nigerian child can leave home for school and return safely.

“Nigeria cannot educate its way out of poverty if terrorists lock the classroom door. Under our government, criminals will not determine when Nigerian schools open. The Nigerian government shall.”