General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, has called for the fencing of Nigeria's borders as a strategic measure to combat terrorism and cross-border crime.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, has called for the fencing of Nigeria's borders as a strategic measure to combat terrorism and cross-border crime. Speaking at a security conference in Abuja, he emphasized that effective border management is crucial in the fight against insecurity. He cited examples of countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which achieved relative peace after fencing their borders with Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. General Musa urged Nigeria to consider a similar approach, especially given its long and porous borders with Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Chad.
He also highlighted the necessity of establishing a comprehensive national database that includes information on both citizens and foreigners. He noted that such systems have been effective in tracking and apprehending criminals in other parts of the world. "We must learn to love our country; Nigeria is the only country we have. Sometimes we hear negative remarks about Nigeria, but if you visit other countries, you will see their efforts to protect their sovereignty," he stated.
General Musa pointed out the importance of good governance and local government autonomy, stating that these are critical for securing the nation. "If you have a state with 20 local governments and 20 effective local government chairmen, insecurity becomes localized. Each one can address the security situation in their local government before it escalates to the state level," he added.
He raised the issue of whether Nigeria possesses a comprehensive database, saying, "We need a census that captures every Nigerian in the world. If you commit a crime abroad, you can easily be caught because there is a database to rely on. Your picture, fingerprint, or signature can be used for tracing."
General Musa reiterated the importance of border management, explaining that many countries have opted to fence their borders due to insecurity. "When people hear about fencing, they often dismiss it as impossible. However, Pakistan fenced a 1,350 km border with Afghanistan, which helped them achieve peace, while Saudi Arabia fenced its 1,400 km border with Iraq. Shouldn't we consider fencing our own borders? We share a 1,500 km border with Niger Republic, 1,900 km with Cameroon, and Chad surrounds us. The Sahel region is becoming increasingly unstable. If we do not act, Nigeria will be at risk when the Sahel falls due to its significant size and resources."
In conclusion, General Musa urged everyone to seriously consider how to secure and take control of Nigeria's borders.
