TETFund set to develop security master plan for tertiary institutions

Worried by the rising insecurity in the country, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to develop a comprehensive security master plan for tertiary institutions nationwide.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, made this known during his remarks at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on campus security towards the development of a security master plan for tertiary institutions in Nigeria, held in Abuja.

He outlined the various threats faced by tertiary institutions, including banditry, kidnapping, and cyber intrusions.

He explained that the master plan aims to enhance threat prevention, detection, and response capabilities.

He stated that the workshop, which was attended by all the Chief Security Officers (CSOs) of all tertiary institutions, covered various aspects of campus security, including intelligence gathering and emergency response mechanisms.

Masari stressed the shared responsibility of campus security among government, security agencies, administrators, students, staff, and communities.

He described the workshop as a critical national document that would shape campus security policies and operations.

He encouraged participants to approach the deliberations with dedication, innovation, and practical solutions, adding that “the outcomes of the workshop will significantly impact the safety of campuses and the future of Nigerian tertiary education.”

The participants, comprising chief executives, deans, security officers, and law enforcement representatives, were encouraged to share experiences and practical solutions to ensure robust, future-proof campus security.

“What we begin here today is not merely another conference. It is a foundational step in developing a comprehensive, forward-looking security master plan for tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“This master plan is expected to establish a time framework security for all institutions, to transcend institutional capacity for threat prevention, detection, mitigation and response, promote intelligence-led security operations and proactive risk management, as well as protect students, staff, facilities, infrastructure, and intellectual assets, among others.

“These deliberations are not theoretical. They form the building blocks of the national framework that will guide campus security policies, investments and operations for many years to come. I am particularly encouraged by this diversity of participants,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sunny Echono, pointed out that some campuses are porous and easily invaded, making them attractive targets for criminals.

He recalled that a previous mapping exercise was conducted to identify high-risk areas and establish emergency response mechanisms.

He said there is a need to interface with various agencies and units in case of a security breach, ensuring clear communication channels.

Echono also stressed the importance of having clear communication channels to alert and respond to security breaches, involving agencies like the military, police, and Civil Defense.

According to him, there is a need for fire drills to prepare for emergencies, and that similar plans should be in place for security breaches.

He highlighted the need for immediate action and not waiting for incidents to occur, mentioning previous efforts to improve infrastructure.

The executive secretary reiterated that reaction and prevention strategies are crucial, not just the infrastructure.

“The primary reason for this engagement is hinged on the collective safety of everyone and others within our campus environments?  There are criminal elements out there wanting to invade our campuses. Our campuses provide a particular attraction as a result of their  huge collection of vulnerable people, and it is not helped by the fact that some of our institutions are so porous, they can easily be invaded.

“We will see to how we can have some emergency response mechanisms in those high-risk areas that we have identified. There are so many layers, when it comes to making security efforts. We are conscious of the fact, we have to interface with so many other agencies and units in the event of such an occurrence,” he said.