FG approves N52bn for e-border security
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved a whopping N52 billion for the installation of modern technology to monitor and secure the Nigerian border across the country.
Nigeria borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west; while coast in the south is located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
The approval was given on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, said that there was need for modern technology to be able to monitor the nation’s borders.
Dambazzau observed that Nigeria’s borders were very porous and diverse, saying, “it is impossible to man these borders physically.”
He explained that this approval was in line with the President Muhammadu Bubari administration focus on securing the country.
“We also thought of the capacity to respond to emergencies at the borders.
“It is on this note that I presented a memo today for this eBorder solution,” the minister said.
According to him, this process started in 2012 but we picked it up to move forward when we came in.
He said that the project is to be completed within the next two years and it will cost about N52 billion.
“There is a pilot project already which has been very successful, it was installed to monitor two borders.
“This project is going to cover 86 border posts in the country. We will be able to also monitor 1,400 illegal routes that are used for smuggling and all kinds of cross border criminal activities.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service will work very closely with other services.
When it comes to response, with the air force and the army units deployed near the borders, with the customs in terms of smuggling. The information will be available real-time 24/7, Dambazzau said.
Nigeria is faced with numerous security challenges ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, oil bunkering, and smuggling largely due to illegal immigrants and porous border.
