Border and national security

Just like the skin protects the body the border protects the country from dangerous elements. It’s common knowledge that Nigeria’s borders have become very porous due to years of neglect. This precarious situation which seems underestimated led to the serious security challenges today like Boko-Haram insurgency, armed banditry, illegal bunkering, drug pushing, weapon trafficking etc. […]

Just like the skin protects the body the border protects the country from dangerous elements. It’s common knowledge that Nigeria’s borders have become very porous due to years of neglect. This precarious situation which seems underestimated led to the serious security challenges today like Boko-Haram insurgency, armed banditry, illegal bunkering, drug pushing, weapon trafficking etc. which resulted into the worrisome large scale destruction of lives, property and economy of the already impoverished border communities. The security challenges have become very difficult only because of unhindered influx of criminals and arms through the country’s very porous borders. It is imperative to note that if a state cannot regulate what passes across its border it cannot control what happens within it. The mayhem by Boko-Haram terrorists such as the numerous gruesome attacks on police stations, army barracks and schools continued with impunity while the government seems helpless.  These mindless attacks which results into deaths of many security agents and the kidnap of countless innocent young girls and boys for sex slavery and forceful conscription is made possible because the country’s border have become major transit points for human, firearm and drug trafficking as identified in the categorization of cross-border crimes by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
It’s estimated that during dry season there are more than 10,000 unmanned routes through which trans-border criminals troop in and out of Nigeria at will. Ease of access to weapons made possible by the porous borders has contributed greatly to the escalation of conflicts and other forms of violence across the country. The Arewa Research and Development Project reported in a workshop in 2013 that guns were openly displayed for sale in border areas along Niger and Chad republics “just like baskets of tomatoes”. Rtd. Colonel ’Hameed Ali who presented the report said ‘’guns are still finding their way into the country in large quantities and that an AK-47 gun with 20 rounds of ammunitions goes for N10,000 on Nigeria’s borders’’. ‘’With this how can we have a secured environment?’’ he lamented.
In 2003 the incidents of trans-border crimes on the Nigeria’s western border had become   so intolerable that the Federal Government was compelled to officially close the border from the 9th to 15th of August. In the North-Eastern States of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba the problem of violent crimes, especially armed banditry, is known to have occasioned a special resolution of the Senate calling on the presidency for action.
The problem of porous borders is compounded by inadequate personnel as the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Rose Uzoma informed in 2012. This can be partly attributed to lack of facilities like office and residential accommodation. In some border areas security personnel have no choice than to be accommodated in rented flats owned by smugglers as they are the landlords that own befitting accommodation.  When on assignment in Shibong village in Takum LGA of Taraba State I witnessed no single Police, Immigration, Customs, NDLEA or Army personnel and smugglers passed by me on motorbikes continuously.
Trans-border crimes could be attributed to several factors including abject poverty, unemployment and lack of governmental presence at the border areas which created a veritable ground for unscrupulous elements. The border communities’ complaints centre on lack of basic socio-economic infrastructure like access roads, clinics, schools, water facilities etc. which have not been provided by government at all levels. Communities in Baruten LGA of Kwara state for instance cross-over to the bordering Benin Republic to access these basic amenities which they rely on and this is the case with many other border communities. Nigeria suffered colossal loss owing to such gross neglect. There was a time security agents of neighbouring countries emboldened by the absence of Nigerian government carried out attacks within Nigerian territory. With the above issues it can’t be understood why the Federal government has been lackadaisical on border issues.
The North-Eastern part of the Nigerian Border which has the highest concentration of border communities can be listed as the most backward due to most difficult terrain, lowest literacy, highest poverty and unemployment rate. The combination of these factors could explain why the region has the highest number of border related crimes including the Boko-Haram insurgency.
 The following recommendations would assist in tackling these intractable challenges: More government presence at the border regions including a special border patrol corps (land, air and sea) and the creation of additional border posts. Government should adopt policies that will transform border areas from their deplorable conditions and put in place effective machinery that would speed up developmental process. This would also ensure patriotism by the inhabitants and deter their youth from being exploited by subversive criminals. Construction of roads, rail and communications infrastructure and the location of related economic activities in the border areas would integrate the region with the rest of the country and attract more development. Where natural resources occur in border areas, government should consider the option of joint exploitation with the border communities. Cooperation with neighbouring governments to block the movement of criminals and supplies across borders should continue. Government should consider harnessing of the historical, cultural and economic ties among border peoples to foster cooperation.   Limiting the use of border areas as strategic sanctuaries by armed groups through the use of drones and converting some areas to game reserves and tourist centres. Government should facilitate collaboration among border area administrative personnel for effective border policing.
Engr. Saleh Yakubu is with the Border Communities Development Agency