The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has advised school owners to strengthen access control measures and restrict unauthorised entry into school premises.
Its National General Secretary, Dr Kayode Adeyemi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.
Adeyemi said the advisory became necessary following rising security concerns, including recent cases of kidnapping and abduction affecting members of school communities in parts of the country.
According to him, NAPPS has urged both day and boarding schools to adopt stricter security protocols aimed at preventing intrusions and enhancing the safety of learners.
“Schools should keep gates locked during school hours and operate a single controlled entry and exit point.
“Also, visitors should not be allowed into schools during learning hours without prior approval and proper identification,” he said.
The NAPPS secretary also advised school administrators to ensure that all visitors sign in, present valid identification, state the purpose of their visit and wear visitor tags before gaining access to school premises.
He said that the association has further warned schools against allowing unauthorised vendors, food sellers, recharge card operators and Point of Sale (POS) agents to operate around school entrances.
According to him, thorough screening of vehicles entering school compounds and the use of body scanners or metal detectors for visitors, contractors and vendors have also been recommended.
On personnel management, Adeyemi said that NAPPS has stressed that security guards should remain at their duty posts and be equipped with communication gadgets such as walkie-talkies and whistles for emergency response.
The association’s national general secretary also advised schools to verify the identities of persons picking up pupils, insisting that only individuals listed on approved pick-up registers and carrying valid identification should be allowed to do so.
He urged schools to ensure that staff members and students wear identification cards during school hours.
“NAPPS recommended the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at gates, corridors, playgrounds and other vulnerable locations, with recordings retained for at least 30 days.
“Our association also called for adequate lighting of school compounds, especially around gates, fences and hostel areas,” Adeyemi said.
He encouraged schools to establish communication networks with neighbouring institutions for rapid dissemination of security alerts and to display emergency contact numbers prominently.
Adeyemi further recommended conduct of regular emergency drills, including lockdown, evacuation and intruder-response exercises, as well as maintaining updated contact information for parents and guardians.
“For boarding schools, the association advised the erection of secure perimeter fencing, enforcement of hostel access restrictions and deployment of additional night security personnel.
“The association also advised school proprietors to conduct periodic security audits and train staff on early reporting of suspicious activities under the “see something, say something” principle,” Adeyemi said.
He said that NAPPS has directed all its state chapters to commence a national prayer initiative for the safe return of kidnapped pupils and teachers and for improved security across the country.
Adeyemi said that the association would engage in the prayer chain as part of its resolutions reached by its National Executive Council over increasing incidents of abduction involving members of school communities, including recent cases reported in parts of Oyo and Borno states.
