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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has kicked off a major push to tighten Nigeria’s porous borders with the inauguration of an Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security.

Declaring the committee open, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Iisa Ali JC, said the move was part of the House’s determination to strengthen national security and restore public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives, property and territorial integrity.

He warned that Nigeria’s weak border control system had become “both an economic and existential threat”, undermining citizens’ faith in state institutions.

Abbas reminded the committee that the National Assembly had a constitutional duty to ensure that all agencies responsible for border management “do their jobs properly.”

The newly inaugurated committee has been tasked with developing strategies and recommendations to help stamp out security threats or reduce them to the barest minimum across the country’s vast borders.

Describing the initiative as part of the Agenda of the House, the Speaker said the committee’s work demonstrates Parliament’s commitment to “a People’s House — one that is responsive to the fears and aspirations of Nigerians.”

He therefore charged members to approach the assignment with diligence and patriotism, stressing that border security remained key to Nigeria’s safety, economy and national sovereignty.

He said: “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.

“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 the society that have led to the misrepresentation of our country, and the distortion of the narrative of violence, which is fueled by greed, corruption and sheer avarice, rather than by any religious agenda”.

The Speaker who stated that the task of securing the borders is a multi-dimensional and multi-agency responsibility, urged all relevant agencies to foster greater co-operation, eliminate duplication of roles, and develop unified operational frameworks.

“It demands synergy, transparency, and patriotism from all institutions of government involved. Border security cannot be achieved in isolation, it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach — one that harmonises the efforts of the military, paramilitary, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies; promotes intelligence sharing; and ensures that communities at the borders are active partners in safeguarding our nation.

“Similarly, the welfare and training of personnel deployed at border posts must be prioritized, as no agency can perform optimally without motivated officers.

“The House of Representatives remains unwavering in its commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s border governance through effective legislation, rigorous oversight, and adequate budgetary support. We are determined to ensure that all appropriated funds meant for border security are judiciously utilised and that the principles of accountability, transparency, and efficiency are upheld.

“The findings and recommendations of this Committee will guide the House in initiating legislative reforms and policy interventions to modernize border security frameworks. This may include reviewing existing laws such as the Immigration Act, the Customs and Excise Management Act, and related statutes to reflect emerging global best practices and security realities”, he added.

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Rep. Isa Mohammed Anka, described the inauguration as a clear demonstration of the House’s shared resolve to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and safeguard the nation’s prosperity.

He expressed concern that, despite the over ₦9 trillion spent by the government on security in recent years, the country is still far from achieving meaningful progress in addressing its security challenges.

“It is deeply troubling that with such huge investments, our security landscape has not recorded commensurate improvement.

“In recent years, we have witnessed an escalation in illegal cross-border activities that threaten 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.

“We also need to ask ourselves some of the contributing factors leading to poor border security which includes:
i. Inadequate Resources: Border security agencies suffer from inadequate funding, poor logistics, ineffective and outdated surveillance equipment and shortage of personnel.
ii. Difficult Terrain: A lot of our borders are located in difficult terrains like thick forests, distant rivers, mountains and deserts, making them tough to police effectively.
iii. Numerous Illega Entry Points: A recent report from Research Gate highlighted that out of Nigeria’s 1,978 entry points only 84 are officially manned by security operatives, leaving 1,894 illegal routes. This is a disturbing statistic and shows a gap in our defences.
iv.Negative Human elements: Negative behavioural attitudes of some of our border security officials are also a major setback that hinders their effectiveness in policing and controlling borders.

“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”, Rep. Anka said.

The Chairman said the committee was committed to producing strong, actionable resolutions aimed at securing Nigeria’s borders, protecting the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring the safety of every citizen.

“The challenges are immense, but so is our resolve. By combining strategic action with a commitment to regional and community-level partnerships, we can and will reclaim control of our borders and build a more secure future for all,” he stated.

Representing the Minister of Interior, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, explained that the ministry’s agencies play a crucial role in maintaining internal security by carrying out border operations designed to curb illegal migration into the country.

Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, appealed for better welfare and support for officers stationed at border posts, noting that their morale and wellbeing were essential to effective border control.

In his remarks, Major General Aliyu Idris, who represented the Nigerian Army, reaffirmed the military’s readiness to support efforts towards achieving full and effective coverage of the nation’s borders.

Other stakeholders at the session pledged to work collaboratively to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and restated their collective commitment to safeguarding the nation’s unity and security.