Defence minister seeks proactive measures to secure Nigeria’s borders

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has called for proactive measures to strengthen Nigeria’s borders against transnational crimes and emerging security threats.

Speaking at a one-day national workshop on “Border Security, Resilience and Cross-Border Cooperation” organised by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Musa said Nigeria must move beyond traditional security approaches and adopt early warning systems, technology-driven surveillance and enhanced intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries.

He described effective border management as vital to national security and economic development.

He said Nigeria’s borders are not merely territorial boundaries but strategic spaces for trade, social interaction and shared heritage.

He noted, however, that they also serve as frontline zones against smuggling, irregular migration and other transnational crimes.

“Resilient borders are not only secured; they are adaptive, inclusive and capable of withstanding security threats, climate change and economic disruptions,” he said.

Earlier, the Director-General of the NBC, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, said securing Nigeria’s borders requires collective action.

He noted that the country shares about 4,454 kilometres of land borders with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, in addition to an 853-kilometre coastline.

Adaji said the commission has established cross-border cooperation platforms involving border communities, traditional rulers, security agencies and civil society groups to promote dialogue, intelligence gathering and conflict prevention.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, stressed that no nation can effectively address border challenges in isolation, calling for stronger regional cooperation.

Traditional rulers from border communities, led by the Emir of Machina, Alhaji (Dr.) Bashir urged the government to involve traditional institutions more actively in security coordination, describing them as the “first eyes and ears” of border communities.

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