Security expert reiterates call for comprehensive border fencing

Security expert and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambassador Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has added his voice to the growing calls urging the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to urgently implement comprehensive border security measures, including the fencing of Nigeria’s porous borderlands.

In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, the security expert warned that Nigeria’s unguarded borders continue to enable terrorist infiltration and worsen insecurity across the country.

The new Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, had earlier this year made a similar call, stressing the urgent need to secure Nigeria’s borders.

He noted that the country’s porous borders significantly contribute to the influx of arms, movement of terrorists, and other serious security threats.

Mumuni called for the installation of secure fences along Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries, equipped with transponder systems for early detection and monitoring.

He cited successful global examples such as the United States-Mexico border and India’s fortified borders with Pakistan.

According to him, Nigeria’s geographical position, sharing boundaries with several countries, makes it highly vulnerable to infiltration by terrorist groups.

Mumuni, a certified Counter Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism practitioner, noted that recent events have exposed how porous these borders are and how easily they can be exploited.

He said the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, adding that erecting a secure fence along the borderlands, equipped with transponder technology to detect unauthorised crossings, would significantly boost the country’s ability to monitor and respond to threats.

This, he stressed, would go a long way in safeguarding citizens and reinforcing national stability.

According to him, such infrastructure will greatly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to monitor and respond to external threats, thereby safeguarding national stability and the safety of citizens.

“Investing in border security infrastructure will not only prevent cross-border terrorism but also improve the overall security situation in the country. This initiative deserves urgent attention and adequate funding as a matter of national priority,” he noted.

He urged the Nigerian government to prioritise the fencing of the country’s borderlands, drawing inspiration from successful examples around the world.

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