Amid rising attacks on schools, ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to fully fund and implement the Safe Schools Declaration while strengthening community-level security in rural and newly threatened communities to protect learners.

The call was made by the Board of Directors of ActionAid Nigeria during its annual General Assembly convened to review the state of the nation.
Reading the text of the press conference at the weekend in Abuja, the convener of the General Assembly Ohio Akoudo Ifiabor, expressed concern over the increasing attacks on schools, noting that between May and July 2026 alone, at least 124 schoolchildren and students were abducted in Oyo, Borno and Zamfara states.

It described the attacks as a growing threat to education and the safety of learners, adding that many abducted children and teachers in other states remain in captivity.
While commending the rescue of 39 pupils and six surviving teachers abducted in Oyo State, they urged the Federal Government to treat the rescue of all remaining abducted children and teachers as a national emergency.

It called for a visible, coordinated and adequately funded rescue and protection operation with clear timelines and regular public updates.
The organisation also urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to move beyond reactive military responses by adopting a comprehensive security strategy rooted in community intelligence, trust and accountability.

The assembly further commended the renewed legislative push for state police, the Federal Executive Council’s approval of comprehensive reforms to the National Youth Service Corps and the introduction of a community-level flood forecasting system ahead of the rainy season, but stressed that Nigerians were yet to experience tangible improvements
They called for the speedy passage of legislation establishing state police, while ensuring safeguards against political abuse and a sustainable funding framework that would enable all states to effectively provide security.

The organisation observed that although Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to about $51.5 billion, the country’s public debt had increased to N156.28 trillion, with $11.6 billion budgeted for debt servicing in 2026.
It also cited the World Bank’s warning that 79 per cent of Nigerians remain poor or vulnerable to poverty and the National Bureau of Statistics’ June inflation figure of 15.91 per cent, saying rising food prices, petrol costs above N1,100 per litre and the N70,000 minimum wage had further worsened living conditions.

On flooding, ActionAid noted the recent projections of 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been placed on high flood alert, with more than 14,000 communities, about 5,000 health facilities and over 10,000 schools at risk between July and September, and called for urgent efforts to safeguard lives and property.
Among its recommendations, ActionAid called on the Federal Government to improve debt management, block revenue leakages, strengthen social protection programmes, adequately fund primary healthcare, review the proposed sugar tax to protect small businesses, ensure reductions in ex-depot petrol prices are reflected at filling stations, and intensify flood preparedness across the country.

The organisation also reviewed the country’s democratic environment ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing reported cases of vote-buying, voter intimidation, accreditation failures and inconsistencies during the recent Ekiti State governorship election.
It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to address the irregularities observed during recent elections and strengthen voter education ahead of the 2027 polls.