Senate President Godswill Akpabio has raised a serious alarm over Nigeria’s education crisis.
He revealed that there are at least 20 million out-of-school children in the country, labeling them as potential bandits.
Akpabio made these statements during plenary on Wednesday, while discussing the urgent need to address the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
This debate was sparked by a report from the Senate Committee on Education, presented by its chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu.
“The menace of out-of-school children poses a grave danger to the security of our country,” Akpabio stated.
He emphasized that these children are a ticking time bomb.
“Twenty million out-of-school children is a time bomb for any country,” he warned.
“They are potential bandits; they represent a major danger. This is a critical issue. This is the root cause of insecurity in our nation,” he added.
The Senate President’s remarks highlight a pressing concern in Nigeria.
The country has been grappling with high rates of out-of-school children for years, particularly in the northern regions.
This issue has raised alarms among policymakers and security experts alike.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, echoed Akpabio’s sentiments.
“It is a serious problem,” he said.
“If we leave it unattended, it is like a time bomb that will eventually consume us, particularly in the Northern part of the country,” he added.
Jibrin pointed out the urgent need to address the large number of children roaming the streets without access to education.
“It is a problem that cannot be solved by the federal government alone or any tier of government. The reorientation must start immediately,” he stressed.
Senator Simon Lalong, representing Plateau South, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to compel state governors to take action.
“State governors must address the issue of out-of-school children in their states,” Lalong said.
He pointed out the significant funds allocated to state governments for education.
“The governors need to take this issue seriously,” he urged.
Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, also contributed to the discussion.
He urged state governors to hold a roundtable discussion to develop actionable measures to tackle the out-of-school crisis.
Senator Sani Bello from Niger North lamented the dire situation in his state.
He shared a tragic incident where children died after being bitten by snakes while wandering in bushes due to the lack of toilet facilities in schools.
Bello emphasized that his administration had spent billions of Naira building better schools during his tenure as governor.
“We must prioritize the safety and well-being of our children,” he stated.
Following extensive discussions on the issue, Senator Seriake Dickson from Bayelsa West proposed a motion for a national summit to address the out-of-school children crisis.
The motion received support from the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.
Akpabio announced that the national summit would bring together various stakeholders.
“This summit will address and iron out issues related to out-of-school children to ensure our national security,” he explained.
The summit will include representatives from the federal, state, and local governments, as well as civil society organizations.
Akpabio’s call for a national summit reflects a growing recognition of the importance of education in national security.
The high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue.
According to reports, the country has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children globally, with millions lacking access to basic education.
The ramifications of this crisis extend beyond education; they contribute to rising insecurity, unemployment, and poverty.
Experts believe that uneducated children are more vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs and extremist groups.