Ekhomu Outlines Architectural Blueprint to Protect Nigerian Schools

As Nigeria continues to battle rising insecurity and the disturbing trend of school abductions, Dr. (Amb.) Victoria Ekhomu, President of the Association of Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) and a leading voice in national security, has called for a deliberate shift toward safe school architecture, a design-focused approach that hardens learning environments against threats.

Her warning comes on the heels of multiple tragic incidents that shook the nation within one week in November 2025: where 25 female students and their principal abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, while the Vice Principal, Mallam Hassan, was killed. Also 41 Unity Secondary Schools being shut down in the North.

Also, 52 students kidnapped from a Catholic school in Agwara, Niger State and over 100 children abducted from St. Mary’s School in Nasarawa State.

“These events are reminders that schools have become soft targets,” Dr. Ekhomu said. “We must redesign them so that the buildings themselves serve as silent security guards.”

According to her, insecurity in many parts of the country has exposed schools to a growing list of threats: armed intrusion, kidnapping, vandalism, community unrest, terrorist activity, and general criminality.

But through intentional architectural planning, rather than just hiring more guards, schools can significantly reduce risk.

Ekhomu emphasized the use of global principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which focuses on designing spaces to deter, delay, and detect threats.

Key components include natural surveillance, controlled access, territorial reinforcement, and defensible space.

In essence, schools must be built in a way that makes criminal activity difficult to carry out without being noticed.

A core element of safe school architecture is the design of entry and exit points. Ekhomu recommends that schools, especially those in high-risk zones, should have one controlled visitor entrance, separate access routes for students and staff, and alarmed emergency exits. “The fewer uncontrolled entry points, the safer the school,” she explained.

Perimeter security is equally vital. This includes solid fencing or walls with anti-climb features, clear visibility along the entire fence line, and the elimination of blind spots or concealed corners where intruders could hide.

Within the school compound, the placement of classrooms and administrative blocks plays an important role.

Classrooms should be located away from the perimeter to reduce vulnerability, while the administrative block should be positioned near the main entrance to reinforce visitor screening.

Ekhomu also advocates for safe rooms or lockdown areas, secure locations where students and staff can retreat during emergencies.

These rooms should have reinforced doors, secured windows, and communication systems connected to security agencies.

To prevent unauthorized access, schools should be designed so that every visitor is funneled through checkpoints such as security desks, visitor registration points, and controlled waiting areas. “This should be enforced by architecture, not optional enforcement,” Ekhomu stressed.

She further recommends the creation of safe drop-off and pick-up zones featuring one-way traffic flow, pedestrian walkways separate from vehicles, and barriers or bollards that can stop vehicle intrusion.

Technology must also be integrated into the building plans. These include CCTV ducts and mounting points, alarm systems, panic buttons, solar-powered backup systems, and public address infrastructure.

For emergencies such as fire or attacks, schools should have multiple evacuation routes, clearly marked signage, well-positioned assembly points away from roads, and accessible ramps.

Boarding schools, Dr. Ekhomu said, require even more specialized planning, including controlled hostel entrances, proper lighting, perimeter alarms, and designated night monitoring points to protect sleeping students.

Even landscaping affects security. Bushy plants, overgrown shrubs, and dense trees can create hiding places for criminals.

Instead, schools should have trimmed lawns, low shrubbery, and strategic tree placement that enhances visibility.

Ekhomu also emphasizes the importance of community collaboration, including buffer zones between schools and public roads, partnerships for external lighting, and cooperation with local vigilante groups or neighborhood security teams.

Understanding that many schools in Nigeria operate on limited budgets, she recommends practical alternatives: strong local fencing, concrete blocks, solar lighting, basic alarm systems, and open, high-visibility layouts that deter criminals without expensive installations.

Ekhomu encourages schools and government agencies to align with national protocols such as the Safe Schools Declaration and the National Security Architecture guidelines.

“The goal is simple,” she stated. “Schools must deter attackers, delay intruders, detect threats early, and protect children through smart design.”

As school abductions continue to threaten Nigeria’s education system, Ekhomu’s message is clear: safety must be built into the walls, walkways, and layouts of every school, ensuring that children can learn without fear.