House presses for urgent action on border control and national security
Members of the House of Representatives have voiced deep concern over the number of unmanned and poorly monitored land border routes across Nigeria, warning that these largely unsecured entry points are a significant threat to national security, economic integrity and border sovereignty.
According to multiple sources, including committees of the House and security agencies, Nigeria is believed to have well over 1,000 illegal or unmanned border routes, with only a small fraction under effective control. One study cited more than 1,400 so-called “illegal routes” in the country.
During plenary and committee sessions, lawmakers noted that these unmanned routes provide easy access for smuggling of arms, infiltration by non-state actors, trafficking of drugs and people, and unregulated movement of goods — all of which undermine governance and public safety.
“Our borders are open in many places” – lawmakers
Lawmakers emphasised that while official border posts exist, the huge number of unmonitored passages mean that Nigeria’s land boundaries are effectively porous in many areas. One joint National Assembly panel asserted:
“We’re fooling ourselves — the borders of the country are open.”
In one motion cited from House proceedings, it was noted that:
“There are over three hundred and twenty (320) illegal routes into Nigeria … the unmanned routes provide avenues for insecurity, proliferation of arms and dumping of unwholesome goods into the country.”
These remarks illustrate the scale of concern among lawmakers who say that border security has not kept pace with evolving threats.
Security, economic and governance risks identified
The implications of unmanned borders are wide-ranging. On the security front, analysts say that armed militants, smugglers, and trafficking networks exploit remote, unmanned routes to move in and out of Nigeria’s territory. Evidence of this includes large recoveries of arms in border states and reports of cross-border insurgent activity. ThisDayLive+1
Economically, the unchecked entry of goods through informal routes undermines customs revenue, damages local industry, and erodes trust in regulatory frameworks. One journal noted that the volume of informal cross-border trade through illegal routes amounts to billions of naira lost annually. Int. Journal of Advanced Research
From a governance perspective, the unmanned state of many border points reflects weak inter-agency cooperation, inadequate resources and lack of technology deployment. The House has pointed out that border policing is shifting from just manpower to smart equipment — yet the transition has been slow. Fuk Journals
Calls for improved technology and manpower
In response, lawmakers and security officials are calling for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s border management approach. Proposals include:
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Deployment of advanced surveillance technology (drones, sensors, night-vision equipment) along key border zones. Fuk Journals+1
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Enhanced funding, training and welfare for border agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
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Stronger community-based border monitoring, including engagement of local border populations to report suspicious activity. PRNigeria News
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Legal and regulatory reforms to clarify the roles of security agencies, improve border infrastructure and close identified unmanned routes.
One senior officer quoted in a BusinessDay article warned:
“This is a national emergency … a country like Nigeria with thousands of unmanned borders, the situation is even more critical.” Businessday NG
The way forward: bridging policy and practice
While the rhetoric is clear, observers note that the key challenge lies in implementation. Having thousands of unmanned border routes requires not just policy statements but sustained investment, cross-agency coordination and political will.
Lawmakers say that urgent action is needed before the next electoral cycle, stressing that border security is inseparable from national stability and economic growth. Failure to act, they warn, will allow smuggling, trafficking and armed infiltration to continue unchecked.
As Nigeria grapples with multiple security threats — insurgency, banditry, maritime crime and porous land borders — the House’s alarm should serve as a wake-up call for the government and all agencies tasked with protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.
