Reps Alarmed As 1,894 Nigerian Borders Remain Unmanned

The House of Representatives has raised concern over Nigeria’s porous borders, revealing that 1,894 out of the nation’s 1,978 official entry points are unmanned, leaving the country vulnerable to criminal activities.

Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security, Hon. Isa Anka, disclosed this on Tuesday during the committee’s inauguration in Abuja.

He said the poorly secured borders have worsened the inflow of illegal arms, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. Citing a ResearchGate report, Anka noted that only 84 entry points are manned across Nigeria’s 36,450 kilometres of land and maritime boundaries.

“Nigeria covers 923,768 square kilometres and shares borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon,” he said. “Illegal cross-border activities such as arms smuggling and human trafficking threaten our national security.”

Anka blamed inadequate funding, obsolete surveillance systems, shortage of security personnel, and challenging terrains like forests, deserts, and rivers for the weak border control.

Despite government spending over ₦9 trillion on security in recent years, he said results have not matched the investment. “Securing our borders is not just about preventing crime; it is about protecting our sovereignty and the lives of Nigerians,” he added.

He said the committee would design practical policies and recommendations to strengthen security and curb cross-border crimes.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, described the situation as an “economic and existential threat,” calling for coordinated intelligence sharing, community cooperation, and unified border operations to safeguard the nation.