By Alao Sunday Adamadamosi, Lokoja
It is that time of the year again when thousands of bright young Kogites file into examination halls across the state to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). For these students, the next few weeks represent the culmination of years of hard work, late-night reading, and sacrifice. As a concerned citizen, I have watched them – some clutching their maths sets, others whispering last-minute formulas – and I have felt both pride and a quiet prayer: may they write in peace.
But peace, as we know all too well, is not automatic. Across Nigeria, schools have become targets. While Kogi State has so far been spared a major examination-day disaster, we cannot afford to wait for a tragedy to jolt us into action. This is why I write to respectfully, but urgently, call on Governor Usman Ododo to immediately bolster security in every secondary school hosting WAEC candidates.
Let me be clear: this is not an indictment of the government. To its credit, the Kogi State administration has shown commitment to security across the state, and recent strides in intelligence gathering and community policing are commendable. However, the WAEC period presents a unique, time-sensitive challenge. Hundreds of students gather daily in predictable locations for hours at a time. That reality demands a temporary but robust scale-up of security – not because the government has failed, but because prevention is always cheaper than cure.
What am I asking for? Three practical, doable measures.
First, a temporary deployment of security personnel – police, NSCDC, and local vigilantes working under state coordination – to every public and approved private school where WAEC is being written. Even two visible officers at each gate would dramatically improve deterrence.
Second, a state-wide emergency communication channel for principals. Let every school head have a direct line to the nearest police divisional officer and the area commander. A quick response, if ever needed, saves lives.
Third, an executive directive to local government chairpersons to clear overgrown vegetation around school perimeters and repair broken fences before the next exam paper. These simple acts remove hiding spots and create natural boundaries.
Some may ask: why this urgency when no attack has occurred in Kogi during WAEC? My answer is simple. We install fire extinguishers before a fire. We vaccinate children before an outbreak. Insecurity, like fire and disease, is best confronted before it arrives. Kogi has seen security challenges in the past – from communal clashes to kidnap incidents – and our government responded well. This is not about crying wolf. It is about building on that record.
I also want to acknowledge the parents. I have spoken to many who now escort their children to school and wait until the paper ends. That is love, but it is also a burden. The government can ease that burden by making escorting unnecessary. When parents see a police patrol car stationed outside their child’s school, they breathe easier. That is the kind of atmosphere WAEC candidates deserve – one of focus, not fear.
Governor Ododo, your administration has earned praise for prioritising education, including the payment of WAEC fees for many indigent students. That investment will pay off only if those same students are safe enough to complete their exams. Securing exam centres is not an admission of failure; it is a mark of responsible leadership.
I therefore join the Kogi State Parents Teachers Association, school principals, and well-meaning citizens in respectfully asking for a special security action plan for the remaining duration of the WASSCE. Let us make this year’s examination a model of safety – not because we reacted to a disaster, but because we anticipated and prevented one.
Our children are writing their future. Let us ensure they do so in security and peace.
– Alao Sunday Adamadamosi is a public affairs analyst and writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
