Nation’s Porous Border Threat to Peace, Security – Prof Jerry Gana

Former Minister of Information and elder statesman, Prof Jerry Gana has said the laxity and porous aspect of the nation’s border is a threat to peace and security in todays Nigeria.

This is as the country marked the 2025 International Day of Peace, with stakeholders, calling on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action on the country’s worsening border insecurity and rising levels of violence.

Speaking at an event in Abuja on Monday, to commemorate both the International Day of Peace and the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof Gana, expressed concern over the security situation in the country, particularly the continued influx of arms and criminal elements through Nigeria’s porous borders.

He said: “Our borders are porous. People can come in anytime, any day, anyhow, and do whatever they like. It is not responsible. It is not proper.”

He noted that it is not enough for Government officials to acknowledge the problems saying; “there must be action.”

“The Federal Government must take the issue of securing the borders, seriously. Otherwise, insecurity will continue to really reign in Nigeria, and, peace and comfort will not be in our domain,” Gana warned.

According to him, “Peace is not just the silence of guns. Peace is justice in action. Peace is leadership with integrity, equitable distribution and fairness.”

Gana described the global decline in peacefulness as a serious threat to humanity, urging Nigerian authorities to prioritise equity, fairness, and national security in their governance approach.

The ex-minister also noted that the 2025 International Day of Peace, themed: ‘Act Now for a Peaceful World,’ was very apt, adding that, “It is both a celebration of hope and summons to urgent action.”

Also speaking, the Director General, IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, underscored the urgent need for long-term and coordinated investments in peacebuilding, especially as Nigeria faces increasingly, complex security challenges, including violent extremism, internal conflict, disinformation, and economic inequality.

“The world today is a complex tapestry of challenges, from geopolitical tensions to internal strife, from economic inequality to climate-induced conflict, from violent extremism to divisive narratives in social media.

“In the face of these headwinds, the message of peace is not a whisper; it is a powerful, urgent clarion call. Peace must be seen not just as the absence of war, but as the presence of justice, equity, and dignity,”Dr Ochogwu said.

He also pointed that the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is a policy framework that could support peacebuilding efforts, warning that, “implementation remains a key challenge.

“In spirit of the International Day of Peace, let us recommit ourselves to building a world where peace is not an aspiration, but a reality,” he added.

The IPCR, established in 2000 as a Government think tank on conflict prevention and resolution, marked its 25th anniversary at the event.

Despite efforts by institutions like the IPCR, the security situation in Nigeria remains dire.

Also, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, said at least, 2,266 people were killed in violent incidents in the first half of 2025, more than double the 1,083 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024.

One of the most recent attacks occurred on August 19, when armed bandits stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, Katsina State, killing at least 50 worshippers during early morning prayers.

The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations, UN, holiday observed, annually on September 21.

Globally, the 2025 Global Peace Index revealed that while 74 countries recorded improvements in peacefulness, 87 experienced a deterioration.