The House of Representatives has raised serious concern over Nigeria’s porous borders, revealing that 1,894 of the country’s 1,978 official entry points remain completely unmanned.
Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security, Hon. Isa Anka, made the revelation on Tuesday during the committee’s inauguration in Abuja.
Anka warned that Nigeria’s weak border control has fuelled the spread of illegal weapons, human trafficking, and drug smuggling across the country.
Citing a recent ResearchGate report, the lawmaker said only 84 entry points are officially manned across Nigeria’s 36,450 kilometres of land and maritime borders.
He described the figure as “disturbingly low” for a country facing such complex security threats.
“Nigeria covers 923,768 square kilometres and shares borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon,” Anka stated.
“Illegal cross-border activities, including arms smuggling and human trafficking, threaten our national security daily.”
He identified inadequate funding, outdated surveillance tools, personnel shortages, and difficult terrains such as forests, rivers, and deserts as key obstacles to effective border management.
Despite government spending of more than ₦9 trillion on national security in recent years, Anka said Nigeria has yet to see meaningful improvement.
“Securing our borders is not only about stopping crime,” he added. “It’s about protecting our sovereignty and the lives of every Nigerian.”
Anka assured that the ad-hoc committee would design practical strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen border management and combat cross-border crimes.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, described Nigeria’s porous borders as both an economic and existential threat, urging stronger coordination among security agencies and communities.
“This inaugural session is a solemn call to national duty,” Tajudeen said. “Together, we must build stronger borders, enhance security, and protect the future of our nation.”
Security experts have long warned that Nigeria’s weak border system enables terrorist infiltration, bandit movement, and illegal migration, worsening insecurity in many regions.
The House committee is expected to engage the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Customs Service, and the Armed Forces to identify and close critical security gaps.
Lawmakers emphasized that improved technology, community collaboration, and inter-agency intelligence sharing are essential to safeguard Nigeria’s borders.