As part of efforts at exploring the possibility of setting up a border security force in the foreseeable future to secure Nigeria’s porous border areas, the federal government has set up a 13-man committee to carry out the needs assessment of the nation’s borders.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who inaugurated the integrated border governance committee at the weekend in Abuja, instructed them to develop an effective management plan that would strengthen border security in the country.
Tunji-Ojo lamented that the nation’s porous border had remained a major source of concern as it aids irregular migration as well as other trans-national organised crimes and human trafficking.
He unveiled the committee during a presentation on effective border management and control by a consultant in his office.
The minister, in a statement by the deputy director of press and public relations in the ministry, Mr Afonja Ajibola, gave the committee 18 weeks to conclude its assignment.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo who painted a scenario of Nigerians at borderlines attending schools in the neighbouring countries said the loyalty of those Nigerians would naturally be with the foreign countries, and wondered how anyone would expect Nigeria to achieve the desired security.
‘It is high time the country stopped paying lip service to border management. I, therefore, converse that enough budgetary allocation be made available for the provision of social infrastructure,” he said.
He added that enough budgetary allocation must be provided to these contiguous border communities to enable them to have a sense of belonging.
Members of the committee are drawn from the Ministry of Interior and its agencies, with the director joint services as chairman.
Other members are the director, planning research and statistics, as well as the director legal, while other members are drawn from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Border Community Development Agency, Community Boundary Commission and the consultant.
Nigeria’s excessive land and maritime borders are porous and poorly managed and this further places responsibility on the border security agencies.
