House of Reps Flags 1,894 Unmanned Borders as Security Threat

The House of Representatives has raised alarm over Nigeria’s porous borders, revealing that 1,894 of 1,978 entry points remain unmanned and susceptible to illegal activities. The Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security, inaugurated in Abuja, was warned by Chairman Isa Anka that the situation poses a serious threat to national security.

Citing research, Anka noted only 84 points are actively manned, describing this as “disturbingly low” for a country with 36,450 kilometres of land and maritime borders. He attributed vulnerabilities to inadequate funding, outdated equipment, insufficient personnel, and difficult terrain. Illegal cross-border activity, including arms smuggling, human trafficking, and drug peddling, has escalated in recent years.

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Speaker Abbas Tajudeen urged the committee to propose concrete solutions, stressing that its findings will guide legislative reforms and policy interventions to modernise Nigeria’s border security.