A retired Assistant Comptroller-Basic (ACG) of Immigration, Mr. Sunday Fagbamigbe, has revealed that Nigeria is grappling with over 320 unmanned unlawful routes that contribute considerably to the nation’s insecurity.
Talking in an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN), Fagbamigbe highlighted the essential want for the Federal Authorities to handle this urgent subject.
Mr. Fagbamigbe retired on October 4 after 30 years of service, having held a number of key positions within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). He expressed issues that these unlawful routes not solely facilitate insecurity but in addition allow the proliferation of arms and the importation of substandard items into the nation.
Fagbamigbe emphasised that the presence of such routes poses a severe risk to nationwide safety, as they’re usually exploited by criminals for numerous illicit actions, together with drug trafficking and human trafficking.
To fight these challenges, he urged the federal government to put money into superior safety expertise at Nigeria’s borders. He argued that the present strategies of border policing, which rely closely on human personnel, are now not adequate. As a substitute, he advocated for the adoption of recent surveillance gear to enhance safety measures considerably.
Technological options
Fagbamigbe identified that nations within the West have successfully utilized applied sciences akin to digital sensors, video displays, and evening imaginative and prescient scopes to handle their borders.
He careworn that these superior instruments have confirmed more practical than conventional human safety measures. He proposed incorporating synthetic intelligence, drones, and darkish fighter cameras to boost Nigeria’s border controls additional.
The retired immigration officer emphasised that strengthening border safety is essential for nationwide protection. He known as for a collaborative strategy, urging the federal government to work intently with border communities to foster consciousness and cooperation in managing these safety challenges.
Border safety
Fagbamigbe lamented the scarcity of safety personnel out there to watch the prevailing unlawful routes, which makes the state of affairs much more dire. He underscored that efficient border administration is important to mitigate dangers related to unlawful actions and preserve the nation’s stability.
Investing in superior expertise and fostering group collaboration are important steps towards making certain a safer Nigeria.
What it’s best to know
Minister of Inside Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasised the essential significance of border management in enhancing nationwide safety. He acknowledged that “any nation that can’t management its border is susceptible to insecurity,” asserting that “a saved border is a saved nation, and a saved nation is a saved universe.”
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted that insufficient border safety locations undue stress on navy and regulation enforcement businesses, arguing that “the power to regulate your borders reduces insecurity by greater than 70 %.”
He expressed that the Ministry of Inside performs an important position past passport issuance, indicating his need to be remembered for addressing bigger safety challenges.
The Minister famous, “Any nation that can’t critically analyze, dictate, and decide who is available in and who goes out is susceptible to insecurity.” He identified that Nigeria shares borders with Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and Benin Republic, protecting over 4,057 kilometers of land and coastal areas.