•1.3m kids affected by closure of schools

By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Managing Editor, Nation’s Capital

Despite committing huge funds to fighting terrorism, banditry and allied crimes in the northern part of Nigeria, the insecurity situation seems to be escalating with attendant fears all over the place as kidnapping, bandits’ attacks and activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP are increasing.

Speaking against this background, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Knut Eiliv Lein, has disclosed that statistics on bandits’ attacks on schools in northern Nigeria were scary. His words: “Because the statistics that we've seen over the last year, just on schools is scary.”

The envoy who made the disclosure while speaking in an exclusive interview with News Express in Abuja, disclosed that more than 1.3 million kids have been affected by closure of schools as a result of violent attacks on school facilities, students, pupils and workers.

Lein further noted that from the statistics 1400 kids have been kidnapped. He added that since December last year 16 deaths have been recorded through the brutal attacks on schools.

He described the attacks as “bleak background” adding: “We are concerned about what we have seen in the last year here (Nigeria).”

The Ambassador who spoke extensively in the special press interview that focused on Safe Schools Initiative, said: “I think the numbers speak for itself when it comes to school kidnappings. And, also to schools being closed, which is a thing that is easily forgotten. One thing is kidnappings and is the most dramatic ones, but both COVID and insecurity lead to a lot of children not being able to go to school like they should. And that has implications both for those children, but also for the families and for the society. So yes, we are concerned and I discussed this with the whole range and I feel like the Nigerian government is, willing and able to discuss this.”

He said: “I think we are counting 1400 kidnapped kids, just since last December, 16 killed, more than 1.3 million kids affected by schools being closed and the unrest so and it’s expensive. I mean, it costs Nigeria millions, both the violence in itself, but also the effects of kids not going to school. So here I think we all have an interest in this being improved . . .

He said the Safe Schools Initiative should move beyond declaration to implementation stressing that “the declaration in itself doesn’t solve anything. It's a tool among many and of course, there are many parties to conflict like this. So, though we think it’s an important tool, we think it’s a tool that came about because there was a need for it and where states have committed to protect schools and I think that’s important here as well as many other places. So if that was to be implemented everywhere, that would help, of course, but alone it doesn't solve any problem.”

The Norwegian Ambassador however expressed hope in Nigeria overcoming insecurity. He said: “And I think, hopefully you'll see some improvement in the situation and in the years to come.”

He commended the role played by Nigeria in the region, noting that “Nigeria as you know, is a heavy weight from both in Africa, but especially in this part of Africa and West Africa, so I have very good conversations with your leadership on the Sahel on challenges in the region.”

The launch of Safe Schools Initiative Declaration comes up this October, in Abuja.

Read details of the interview in our subsequent edition.

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