Sir: I listened to General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chef of Defense Stab (CDS), on June 3 during a security conference in Abuja, where he worked publicly for the construction of fences along the Nigeria's borders with neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Niger, Benin and Chad.
He informed the audience that Pakistan had built extensive border teeth across his border with Afghanistan in order to contain the cross -border terrorism and to maintain territorial integrity. He also found that Saudi Arabia with his border to Iraq did the same and emphasized it as a strategic effort to protect national security and to establish control of its limits.
I correct my thoughts on the critical initiative of General Musa to make our national security challenges through a transformation leap. Without a doubt, our security situation has achieved a crucial intersection – a turning point – where our strategic efforts have to experience a strong and fundamental paradigm shift.
We are all aware that our borders are extensive porous-north-west from the northeast, southwest of the southeast and even through the north-central and south-south zones. These porous boundaries are easily accessible for terrorists, weapons smugglers, human dealers, illegal migrants, economic saboteurs and all kinds of shameful transnational criminals.
Records show that Nigeria, with over 4,000 kilometers on land limits, which are shared with Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon, have more than 1,400 illegal routes, with only 114 approved control items and only 80 e-size technology provisions.
If we have really committed ourselves as a nation to confront the safety and economic vice that facilitated our porous borders, border fences stands out as a critical option – one that can consider the other government's other efforts to reduce the security challenges that tortured Nigeria.
The call from the CDs should not receive any rhetorical answers, but should be regarded as a practical, implementable strategy. In many countries it was successfully used to confront similar safety threats. Beyond Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as Minioned by the CDs, Other Examples Include India, which Constructed Over 3.300 Kilometres of Fencing Along Its Borders With Pakistan to Counter Terrorism and Arms Smuggling, Israel, which Built High-Tech Fences Along The Gaza Strip And The Sinai Border with Egypt, result in A Significant Reduction in Illegal Entries and Terrorist Attacks and United States, which Despite Political Outcry, made border fences along the parts of the border between the USA and Mexico, which led to a dramatic reduction in the non -authorized intersections.
Fence signals state presence, authority and intentions, especially in remote or controversial areas in which governance is either weak or not existing. It contains smuggling and prevents economic leaks in which billions of billions are lost annually by illegal trade and facilitates structured migration management and the associated advantages.
In view of this critical imperative, the Federal Government should urgently represent a task force by the President of Strategic Border Fences with a full presidential mandate and authority to carry out a national survey on the risk of border security and identify and prioritize corridors that are vulnerable to transnational crimes. Design a phased national border crops. Technology operations) and suggest financing mechanisms, including budget assignments, public-private partnerships, international security grants, multilateral development aid and other innovative sources.
The Task Force must enforce the transparent financial government and implement strict expenditure tracking to ensure money contracts and zero tolerance for corruption.
Border fences are not just a physical barrier, but a strategic redefinition of Nigeria's security architecture. It represents an integrated national security framework to defend our territorial integrity, to promote economic stability and to ensure long -term development.
Therefore, I passionately appeal to Mr. President, who was appointed because of his brave vision, his old leadership and his strategic foresight to increase border fences to a priority of the president. It must not be addressed as an optional political direction, but as a stratified national project, which is of crucial importance for the structural re -calibration of Nigeria's security.
• Prof. Sunday Agente Othereli, Baruu, Lagos.