SINET tells Buhari: Dredge barriers around Nigeria’s borders to address smuggling

A group, Social Integrity Network (SINET), has enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the immediate approval of dredging of the nation’s land borders to serve as a barrier with her neighbouring countries so as to proffer long-lasting solution to the smuggling of illegal items to Nigeria.

SINET made the call on Monday in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Issa, saying the move would further complement the efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) towards securing the nation’s porous border.

According to it, the project, when put in a place, will provide absolute security and protection of Nigeria border and relief Customs from trailing smugglers around official and unofficial routes, saying the pit to be dug should be 60metres deep and 30metres wide.

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“The project, when done, will provide absolute security and protection of Nigeria border and relief Customs from tailing smugglers around official and unofficial routes. The pit should be 60m deep and 30m wide. Such border barrier also exists between the United State of America, (USA) and Mexico but in a different form,” the group said.

SINET said such border barrier also existed between the United State of America (USA) and Mexico but in a different form.

“The barrier dredging project would be economical, less stressful and efficient as an instrument for the border control mechanism. It is high time we start thinking and embarking on projects that can sustain the relative peace and security enjoyed by Nigerians in the recent time due to the closure of land borders,” the group said.

It, however, commended the relentless efforts of the Customs officers for their painstaking strides towards getting rid of smugglers out of Nigeria by abiding strictly by the regulations and policy of Federal Government on border closure.

SINET also commended Nigerians for enduring the seeming hardship that the policy might cause within the short time, stressing that it was only with unity and peace that the country’s growth and development can be accelerated.