The attention of Policy House International’s (Incentive Based Program- IBP) has been drawn to the recent educational challenges and set back in Niger state, north central region of Nigeria.



According to multiple media reports of Friday, November 26th 2021, Boko Haram has launched a serious campaign where parents are being forced to withdraw their kids from schools in some parts of the state. According to the report, the SSG to the Niger state government lamented that farmers are now being forced to pay levies to enable them access their various farms as well.



For us at the Incentive Based program, this is double tragedy for our intervention in the region, first, it is a minus for our campaign for reduction in the number of out of school children and the second it is a big blow for food security in the region which has suffered serious setbacks in recent times due to attacks on farmers and the increase in the number of schools that were shut down in the 1st and second quarter of 2021.



We call on the Nigeria government to secure the areas where Boko Haram is collecting levies from farmers and restore civil governance and authority in those areas so identified and ensure that no parent is compelled to withdraw his or her wards from schools not only in Niger state but in all educationally disadvantaged and challenged regions in Nigeria.

We are monitoring the situation in Niger state Nigeria and we are in touch with relevant stakeholders in the educational sector with a view to coordinating efforts in supporting the Nigerian government at all levels.

Good

Dire situation indeed

No be small

Dividend of religious extremism