Nigeria’s defence chief on Tuesday advocated for the complete fencing of the country’s borders with its four neighbors to stem the influx of armed groups amid escalating insecurity.
Nigeria’s military is currently stretched thin by widespread security challenges, notably a 16-year insurgency in the northeast led by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Security forces and civilians have been targeted in attacks, resulting in deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
Speaking at a security conference in the capital Abuja, Defence Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa emphasized that “border management is very critical,” citing Pakistan’s 1,350 km (839 miles) fence with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia’s 1,400 km barrier with Iraq as successful examples.
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This marks the first time a high-ranking Nigerian official has publicly proposed such a measure.
“Other countries, because of the level of insecurity they have, had to fence their borders,” he stated.
Nigeria shares borders with Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad, all of which are grappling with escalating militant campaigns across the Sahel region.
Nigerian authorities frequently attribute the country’s prolonged insurgency, including recent attacks on military stations, to the infiltration of foreign fighters.
Nigeria’s longest border (1,975 km) is with Cameroon in the northeast, a Boko Haram hotspot. It also shares 1,500 km with Niger and 85 km with Chad, nations that have lost territory to armed groups.
Musa cautioned that Nigeria’s perceived wealth makes it a target.
“It is Nigeria that everybody is interested in. That is why we need to secure fully and take control of our borders,” he said. “It is critical for our survival and sovereignty.”
