The Senate on Tuesday urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel to tackle insurgency, banditry, and the increasing wave of school abductions across the country.
Lawmakers also called for a thorough investigation into the Safe School Programme, questioning the allocation and expenditure of funds despite repeated attacks on educational institutions.
Their concerns were heightened by the recent attack on Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen reportedly killed a vice principal and abducted 25 students.
The debate was initiated by additional prayers raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during plenary, prompting a heated discussion on Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the session and later convened a closed-door meeting to discuss classified matters.
Oshiomhole, while advocating for significant recruitment and a security audit, warned that the extent of insecurity necessitated a strategic expansion of the armed forces.
He stated, “I urge the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 military personnel so we can have enough men and women in our troops. It is also another way to create employment for our youthful population.”
He also sought clarity regarding the Safe School funds.
“People have turned our security into a business. We should not monetise the death of our people by those living. What happened to the money earmarked for the Safe School Programme?”
Oshiomhole further called for a Senate-led investigation and enhanced technological capabilities for security agencies.
“Again, I urge the FG and the relevant Senate committees to probe the funds appropriated for the Safe School Programme. I call on the military to deploy the use of technology and tracking devices to be able to track these criminals,” he urged.
His additional prayer was unanimously seconded and adopted by lawmakers across party lines.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the call for 100,000 new troops and supported the investigation into the Safe School Programme.
“We urge the Federal Government and the Senate committee to probe the spending. Unfortunately, these criminals are going after soft targets,” he stated.
Akpabio also cautioned against politicising insecurity, offering condolences to the victims of the Maga school attack.
“But crime is crime. It doesn’t matter under which administration it takes place. Even the almighty America has crime daily. All lives matter. May the souls of our fellow Nigerians and the vice principal who died in the course of protecting the students rest in peace.”
Despite adopting the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, Nigeria has continued to endure a decade-long pattern of attacks on schools. The policy, endorsed by the Federal Government, outlines measures to safeguard educational spaces during armed conflict.
UNICEF has repeatedly urged the full implementation of the declaration, emphasising the need for safe and inclusive learning environments.
The PUNCH previously reported that gunmen invaded the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of a vice principal and the abduction of several students. A school guard was also injured during the attack. Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, have since launched a search-and-rescue operation.
The debate in the Senate also addressed the country’s current defence capabilities. According to Global Firepower’s 2022 ranking, Nigeria retained its 35th position out of 142 countries and is rated as the third most powerful military in Africa.
The report indicates Nigeria’s total active personnel at 135,000, with total military personnel at 215,000 and no reserve component. The assessment also details Nigeria’s hardware inventory, which includes 140 aircraft, 376 tanks, 2,019 armoured vehicles, 349 towed artillery units, and 47 rocket projectors, among others.
Despite these figures, senators argued that the gap between capacity and operational reality remains significant, reinforcing the need for fresh recruitment and enhanced protection of schools in conflict-prone regions.
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