To halt the infiltration of armed groups, Nigeria's top defence official suggests an ambitious plan to entirely fence the nation's borders with its four neighbouring countries.
Nigeria's Defence Chief of Staff on Tuesday proposed the complete fencing of the nation's borders with its four neighbours, a drastic measure aimed at stemming the influx of armed groups and tackling escalating insecurity across the country. This marks the first time such a suggestion has been publicly put forth by a high-ranking Nigerian official.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, speaking at a security conference in Abuja, emphasised that "border management is very critical" for Nigeria's survival and sovereignty. He cited successful precedents like Pakistan's 1,350 km fence with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia's 1,400 km barrier with Iraq as models for Nigeria to consider.
Nigeria's military is currently stretched thin battling widespread security challenges, most notably a 16-year insurgency in the northeast spearheaded by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The conflict has resulted in countless attacks, civilian and military casualties, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people. Nigerian authorities frequently attribute the persistent insurgency, including recent assaults on military installations, to the infiltration of foreign fighters.
Nigeria shares borders with Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad, all of which are themselves grappling with intensifying militant campaigns across the Sahel region. Nigeria's longest border, stretching 1,975 km, is with Cameroon in the northeast, a major hotspot for Boko Haram activity. It also shares 1,500 km with Niger and 85 km with Chad, nations that have experienced territorial losses to armed groups.
General Musa warned that Nigeria's perceived economic strength makes it an attractive target for these groups. "It is Nigeria that everybody is interested in," he stated. "That is why we need to secure fully and take control of our borders."
The proposal to fence Nigeria's extensive borders is a significant escalation in the discourse surrounding national security. While the practicalities and cost of such an undertaking would be immense, the defence chief's call underscores the gravity of the security situation and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to protect Nigeria's territory and its citizens.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show....
U.S. artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia is in discussions with the White House to sell a simplified version of its next-generation Blackwell GPU...
The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at record highs on Thursday (28 August), after Nvidia’s quarterly report fell short of investors...
Floods in Pakistan's Punjab province have submerged 1,692 villages, killed at least 17 people, and directly affected more than 1.4 million residents, ...
The United States and Panama have put forward a new draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council, seeking to tackle the growing threat of a...
Armed bandits stormed a mosque in northern Nigeria’s Katsina state during morning prayers, leaving dozens dead and many injured.
More than 40 people are missing after a boat capsized in northwest Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Sunday, with 10 survivors rescued so far, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The boat was en route to the popular Goronyo market when disaster struck.
Flooding in Nigeria has displaced 49,205 people this year, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
At least 45 women and children were kidnapped overnight during coordinated raids on five villages in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, according to local witnesses.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
The United States will not participate in the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and will miss its November reporting deadline, officials have confirmed.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
U.S. artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia is in discussions with the White House to sell a simplified version of its next-generation Blackwell GPU chips to China, Chief Executive Jensen Huang said on Thursday.
Floods in Pakistan's Punjab province have submerged 1,692 villages, killed at least 17 people, and directly affected more than 1.4 million residents, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said on Thursday.
The United States and Panama have put forward a new draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council, seeking to tackle the growing threat of armed gangs in Haiti and to establish a more sustainable UN-backed security mechanism.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment