By Peter.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has issued a stark warning about the nation’s porous borders, disclosing that 1,894 of its 1,978 official entry points remain unstaffed, creating critical vulnerabilities to transnational crimes like arms smuggling, human trafficking, and narcotics trade. This revelation emerged during the inauguration of a new Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security in Abuja on Tuesday, where lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the country’s sovereignty.
Leading the charge, Committee Chairman Hon. Isa Mohammed Anka highlighted the escalating risks posed by these gaps, drawing from a ResearchGate analysis that only 84 entry points—spanning Nigeria’s expansive 36,450 kilometers of land and maritime frontiers—are actively monitored by security forces. “Nigeria spans 923,768 square kilometers, bordering Benin to the west, Niger and Chad to the north, and Cameroon to the east,” Anka noted, underscoring how unchecked illicit flows have intensified threats to public safety and economic stability. He pointed to root causes including chronic underfunding, outdated surveillance tools, personnel deficits, and rugged landscapes like dense forests, remote rivers, and arid deserts that complicate patrols.
Anka further lamented the disconnect between massive investments—over N9 trillion allocated to security in recent years—and tangible outcomes, calling it a “major gap in our national defense system.” The committee, he pledged, will prioritize actionable policies to minimize these breaches, fostering better coordination among agencies like the Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs, Navy, Police, and NDLEA.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isa, framed the initiative as a “solemn call to national duty,” rejecting notions that insecurity stems from ethnic or religious divides and instead attributing it to greed and corruption. He described unmanned borders as “an economic and existential threat,” advocating for unified operations, robust intelligence exchange, community partnerships, and legislative tweaks—such as updates to the Immigration Act and Customs laws—to align with global standards. “Together, let us build stronger borders, enhance our national security, and secure the future of our great nation,” Abbas urged, stressing transparency in security spending and the welfare of frontline officers.
The panel’s work signals a proactive legislative push amid rising cross-border incidents, with expectations that its recommendations will drive reforms to fortify Nigeria’s frontiers and restore public confidence in governance.
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