Reno Omokri: FG Can't Secure All 300,000 Schools in Nigeria

The recent abduction of schoolchildren in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, has sparked a wave of concern about the safety of educational institutions in Nigeria. Reno Omokri, Nigeria's ambassador-designate to Mexico, has weighed in on the issue, stating that it is unrealistic for the Federal Government to provide security for every school in the country. Omokri made this statement in a recent post on X, where he also cautioned against emotionally driven criticism of the federal government. He argued that such criticism only serves to deepen mistrust in society and plays into the hands of those who benefit from national division. According to Omokri, the solution to the problem of insecurity in schools lies in the establishment of state police. He pointed out that Nigeria has an estimated 300,000 schools, but the number of soldiers is fewer than that, making it impossible for federal forces to protect every school. Omokri cited the example of Lagos State, where a community-based security structure was introduced and later legalized in 2016, resulting in improved security outcomes. He urged state governors to take greater responsibility for school safety and security infrastructure, rather than shifting the blame to the federal government. Omokri also stressed the importance of local cooperation in preventing and responding to security threats, noting that security agencies rely heavily on community intelligence. He encouraged residents to report suspicious activities promptly through emergency hotlines, emphasizing the need for timely information sharing to prevent attacks. Omokri quoted, 'Let us now consider some facts and introduce solutions. Nigeria has approximately 300,000 schools and fewer than 300,000 soldiers. It is not practicable for the Federal Government to guard every school in Nigeria. That is why President Bola Tinubu proposed State Police and asked the Governors to get on board. Only the State Police can secure Nigeria’s 300,000 schools.'