The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it is developing a comprehensive security master plan to enhance safety across tertiary institutions in the country.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Alhaji Aminu Masari, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on the proposed framework.

Masari said tertiary institutions were increasingly exposed to security threats including banditry, kidnapping and cyberattacks, adding that the master plan would strengthen prevention, detection, mitigation and response mechanisms.

He described the workshop as a major step towards producing a national document that would guide campus security policies and operations for years.

“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,” he said.

Masari said the plan would establish a robust security architecture that would enable institutions to operate beyond their current capacities in addressing threats.

According to him, the master plan is designed to promote intelligence-led operations and proactive risk management, and to safeguard students, staff, facilities, infrastructure and intellectual assets.

He added that it would also enhance collaboration among tertiary institutions, security agencies and host communities; institutionalise emergency preparedness and crisis management; ensure business continuity; and integrate modern physical and digital security technologies into campus operations.

Masari said deliberations at the workshop would form the foundation of a national framework to guide future security investments and policies in tertiary institutions.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono, also said many campuses remained porous, making them attractive targets for criminals.

Echono recalled that a previous security mapping exercise had identified high-risk areas and supported the establishment of emergency response mechanisms, but stressed the need for stronger coordination among security agencies.

He emphasised the need for clear communication channels for timely alerts and responses to security breaches, involving the military, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“We need to sensitise everyone that this risk is real. There are criminal elements who want to invade our campuses because they present a particular attraction due to the large concentration of vulnerable people,” Echono said.

“This situation is worsened by the fact that some of our institutions are so porous that they can easily be invaded,” he added.