The Tertiary Education Trust Fund says it is set to develop a comprehensive security master plan to strengthen security at tertiary institutions nationwide.

The chairman of TETFund’s board of trustees, Aminu Masari, said this at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop aimed at developing a security master plan for tertiary institutions in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Masari outlined the various threats faced by tertiary institutions, including banditry, kidnapping, and cyber intrusion. He said the master plan aimed to enhance capabilities for threat prevention, detection, and response.

According to him, discussions around the workshop will cover various aspects of campus security, including intelligence gathering and emergency response mechanisms. He canvassed 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.

“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 security of time framework for all time-sharing institutions to transcend institutional capacity for threat prevention, detection, mitigation and response. It is to promote intelligence-led security operations and proactive risk management and protect students, staff, facilities, infrastructure and intellectual assets.

“We intend to deepen collaboration between institutions, security agencies and host communities; institutionalise emergency preparedness, crisis management and business continuity protocols; and integrate modern, physical and digital security technologies into campus operation,” he said.

According to him, these deliberations are not theoretical, adding that they form the building blocks of the national framework that will guide campus security policies, investments and operations for years to come.

The executive secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said some campuses were porous, making them attractive targets for criminals. Mr Echono noted that a previous mapping exercise was conducted to identify high-risk areas and establish emergency response mechanisms. He said there was a need to interface with various agencies and units in case of a security breach and to ensure clear communication channels.

He also stressed the importance of clear communication channels to alert and respond to security breaches, involving agencies such as the military, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“We need to sensitise each and every one of you that this risk is real. There are criminal elements who want to invade our campuses because they provide a particular attraction as a result of the huge collection of vulnerable people. This is not helped by the fact that some of our institutions are so porous they can easily be invaded,” he said.

(NAN)