President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the protection and welfare of Nigerian children, ordering intensified security operations and stronger school protection measures following recent abductions in parts of the country.
In a State House statement released on Tuesday to mark the 2026 Children’s Day, Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated Nigerian children across different backgrounds while acknowledging the pain of families whose children and teachers remain in captivity.
He described Children’s Day as a moment to honour the innocence, resilience and potential of children, noting that they remain “the pride of our Republic” and central to Nigeria’s future.
However, the President said the celebration is clouded by the continued captivity of some schoolchildren and teachers in Borno State and Oyo State, stressing that affected families remain in deep anguish.
“To those children, their parents, and their teachers, I say this as a father and your President: you are not forgotten. You are not abandoned,” Tinubu said.
He assured Nigerians that security agencies have been directed to sustain and intensify coordinated, intelligence-led rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of abducted children and other vulnerable citizens across the country.
The President also announced plans to strengthen the Safe Schools initiative through updated vulnerability mapping, improved coordination between state authorities and security agencies, rapid response mechanisms, and community-based early warning systems.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Education, working with state governments, has been tasked with deepening implementation of the Safe Schools framework with clearer responsibilities and timelines to enhance accountability and preparedness.
Tinubu further emphasized the need for comprehensive care for rescued children, stating that recovery must go beyond physical rescue to include medical support, psychological counselling, reintegration into education, and restoration of dignity.
He also called for broader community participation in safeguarding schools, urging parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers, youth groups, transport unions, vigilante networks, and the media to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.
“Protecting children cannot be left solely to the government,” the President said, warning that silence in the face of warning signs increases risks to children’s safety.
Reaffirming his administration’s long-term vision, Tinubu said the government remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education, healthcare, nutrition, social protection, and safe communities.
“Childhood must not be a privilege reserved for a few. It is the right of every Nigerian child,” he stated.
The statement concluded with a message directly to children across the country, assuring them that their dreams, safety, and future remain a national priority.
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