Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said the country’s worsening insecurity is being fuelled largely by porous land borders that allow terrorists, bandits and kidnappers to move in and out with ease.
Musa made the remarks on Thursday in an interview with the BBC, where he disclosed that the federal government is considering a mix of physical barriers and modern surveillance technology to curb illegal cross-border movements.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s extensive land borders — spanning more than 4,000 kilometres — make it difficult to rely solely on physical structures such as walls. He said the government is therefore focusing on technology-driven solutions capable of detecting and tracking illegal crossings in real time.
He noted that countries with longer and more complex borders have successfully deployed surveillance systems to monitor movement and enhance security, adding that Nigeria could adopt similar approaches.
Musa said the government also plans to deepen engagement with border communities, stressing that residents have a critical role to play in preventing terrorists from finding safe havens or local support.
He added that awareness campaigns would be intensified to discourage communities from collaborating with criminal groups and to encourage the timely reporting of suspicious activities.
The defence minister’s comments come amid a spike in violent incidents, including mass abductions in parts of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states towards the end of 2025.
Musa also referenced recent United States air strikes on suspected hideouts of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, saying the operation forced the militants to retreat into neighbouring Niger Republic.
