Insecure Borders Threatening Our Security, Sovereignty-Speaker Abbas, Others Say …NIS, Police, Army Others Highlight Challenges, Seek Interventions

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajuddeen and other stakeholders have stated that lack of adequate measures to secure Nigeria’s borders is threatening its security, territorial integrity as well as sovereignty in the face of growing security challenges posed by cross border criminality.

They made the assertion in their separate submissions during the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee on Border Security on Tuesday.

They reiterated the need to restructure and strengthen Nigeria’s border security architecture to ensure adequate security in the country.

In his remark, the Speaker who was represented by the Minority Whip of the House, Hon Ali Isa JC said, the parliament is commitment to the security and welfare of Nigerians, hence the need to secure the country’s borders against infiltration of criminal elements to perpetrate criminality in the country.

He said, “Since the security and welfare of Nigerians is at the heart of our legislative agenda, we are resolved to ensure that Nigerians, whatever their ethnicity or religion can afford to live peacefully wherever they choose.

“This committee is therefore part of our efforts to provide concrete solutions to the violent attacks by fringe members of society that have led to the misrepresentation of our country, and the distortion of the narrative of violence,” which is not fuelled by any religious agenda”.

According to him, as members of the National Assembly, they have a constitutional mandate to ensure that agencies charged with safeguarding the borders do their jobs properly, “especially now that the porous borders constitute both an economic and existential threat.”

He added that, the use of Nigeria’s border corridors for smuggling, irregular migration, and other illicit activities have come to threaten the unity and peace in the country adding that only a thorough investigation and decisive legislative action can provide solutions.

The Speaker said, “In some ways, your borders define you as a nation. It shows what kind of people you allow into the country, how you protect citizens from harm, how you handle trade and commerce, how you welcome visitors.

“Today, we inaugurate this committee with a clear and urgent mandate, to examine and strengthen Nigeria’s border security architecture in the interest of national safety and sovereignty. This interactive session reflects the commitment of the House to run a People’s House, one that is responsive to the fears and aspirations of our people”.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Isa Mohammed Anka said, “Nigeria is a vast country that covers 923,768 square kilometres with approximately 36,450 kilometres of land and sea borders. it borders Benin to the west, Niger and Chad to the North, and Cameroon to the East.

“In recent years, we have witnessed an escalation in illegal cross-border activities that threatens our national security such as illegal arms smuggling, human trafficking and drug smuggling etc. It is noteworthy, that our borders are porous, with many unofficial routes for smuggling goods.

“A recent report from Research Gate highlighted that out of Nigeria’s 1,978 entry points only 84 are official manned by security operatives, leaving 1,894 illegal routes. This is a disturbing statistic and shows a gap in our defences”.

The lawmaker stated that, despite all efforts to address the situation, there are factors that still contribute to the rising cross border activities that are posing great threat to the country which include; Inadequate Resource; Difficult Terrain; Numerous Illegal Entry Points and Negative Human elements

He added, “While the Nigeria Immigration Service serves as the agency responsible for border security as it relates to human movements, the Nigerian Customs controls the border security as it relates movement of goods and services. The efforts of these agencies are being complimented by some others including, but not limited to, the Nigerian Navy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Police Force, Nigerian Army etc.

“It is alarming that despite significant government expenditure, which has exceeded 9 trillion naira over the past years, we are yet to attain commensurate gains in our security landscape. As a Committee, we pledge to come up with appropriate strategies and/or recommendations, which when implemented, will assist in the eradication of these security threats or reducing them to the barest minimum level”.

On their part, the ministry of interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) as well as various security, and paramilitary agencies that attended the session re-echoed the need to address the challenges as highlighted by the Committee which they are the major challenges hindering the operations of the agencies to secure the country’s borders.