Sunday Fagbamigbe, a retired Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, has revealed that Nigeria has more than 320 unmanned illegal border routes, contributing to the country’s security challenges.
In an interview on Friday in Abeokuta, Fagbamigbe explained that these illegal routes facilitate insecurity, the proliferation of arms, and the influx of substandard goods into Nigeria.
He urged the federal government to invest in advanced equipment for border surveillance to improve national security. According to him, installing modern surveillance technology is essential due to the growing security threats the nation faces.
Fagbamigbe highlighted the types of insecurity plaguing the country, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other related issues.
He pointed out that border security had evolved beyond the use of only human personnel, with many countries now relying on advanced electronic systems for more effective operations.
The porous nature of Nigeria’s borders, he noted, has also allowed illegal drug and human trafficking to flourish. Fagbamigbe emphasized that using technologies like electronic sensors, video monitors, and night-vision scopes to detect illegal entries has proven to be more effective in Western nations than traditional human surveillance.
He stressed the need to enhance border surveillance for greater security and stability, noting that border protection is critical to any nation’s defense.
Fagbamigbe also highlighted the shortage of security personnel to man Nigeria’s numerous illegal border routes. During his service, he oversaw several formations, including Igando, Iseyin, Saki Border Patrol, Lagos Passport Command, and Zone ‘F’ in Oyo.