The Federal Government has unveiled fresh measures aimed at tackling school abductions, insecurity and other emerging threats affecting basic education across Nigeria.

The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Aisha Garba, during a three-day training programme held in Kano for stakeholders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The programme focused on revised operational documents for School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), with the government introducing new strategies designed to strengthen community participation in school protection and ensure uninterrupted learning for children.

Represented by the Head of Community Engagement and Social Mobilisation at UBEC, Patricia Uche, Garba explained that the revised guidelines now include issues such as school safety, education in emergencies, climate change and gender-based violence.

According to her, the changes became necessary due to increasing cases of banditry, kidnappings and attacks targeting schools and communities across parts of the country.

“One of the major updates is education in crisis. We are talking about recent cases of banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges affecting schools and communities,” Uche stated during the programme.

She explained that the revised framework is intended to mobilise communities to take more active roles in protecting schools and supporting efforts to keep children safely in classrooms despite security challenges.

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The UBEC official further revealed that the Federal Government has introduced safe school initiatives as part of the revised operational documents.

According to her, many public primary schools across Nigeria remain vulnerable because they are not properly secured or fenced, making them easy targets for criminal attacks.

“We have also introduced safe school initiatives because many public primary schools are not fenced and remain vulnerable,” she said.

Uche stressed that the new guidelines would encourage communities to identify security risks around schools and advocate for stronger safety measures to protect both learners and teachers.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen the education sector amid persistent insecurity in several parts of Nigeria, particularly in northern communities where school abductions have disrupted academic activities in recent years.

Stakeholders at the training programme were also expected to discuss strategies for improving collaboration between schools, parents, community leaders and security agencies to enhance school safety and educational continuity.

Observers say the latest reforms reflect growing concern over the impact of insecurity on access to education and child development nationwide.