Nigeria plans to fence its borders like Pakistan as insecurity grows
Nigeria plans to fence its borders like Pakistan as insecurity grows
Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Retd), brings a wealth of military experience to his role at a time when the country continues to grapple with severe insecurity. Sworn in just yesterday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, General Musa assumed duty today at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, pledging swift improvements in national security.
General Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff from June 2023 until his retirement in October 2025, has long emphasised the need for stronger border controls. Earlier this year, in June, while still CDS, he publicly advocated fencing Nigeria’s extensive land borders with its neighbours – Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad to prevent the influx of armed groups, weapons, and contraband.
Speaking at a security conference in Abuja, he described border management as “critical” for Nigeria’s sovereignty, noting that the country’s perceived wealth makes it a prime target for terrorists and bandits fleeing instability in the Sahel region. “Nigeria is the main attraction because of this perception that it’s a rich country, and the borders are porous,” he said, pointing to successful examples like Pakistan’s fence along its border with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia’s barrier with Iraq.
Nigeria shares more than 4,000 kilometres of land borders: roughly 1,975 km with Cameroon (a key area for Boko Haram and ISWAP activities), 1,500 km with Niger, 773 km with Benin, and 87 km with Chad. These porous frontiers have facilitated the movement of insurgents, arms, and emerging threats like the Lakurawa militia.
General Musa proposed starting with high-risk sections, such as the Nigeria-Niger border, using modern technology including surveillance cameras, drones, and wire mesh fencing. He suggested sourcing materials locally, like steel from the Ajaokuta Steel Mill, to cut costs and create jobs. Dismissing concerns about expense, he remarked, “What is money when you are dead?”
The idea, the first such comprehensive proposal from a top official, has sparked debate. Supporters see it as essential for creating secure buffers and improving response times, while critics highlight the huge costs, potential disruption to cross-border trade and ethnic communities, and tensions with ECOWAS free-movement rules.
With ongoing threats from banditry in the northwest to insurgency in the northeast and recent attacks in states like Benue General Musa’s appointment is widely viewed as a boost for hands-on leadership. As he steps into this civilian role, his earlier advocacy for border fencing is likely to remain a key part of discussions on tackling Nigeria’s complex security issues. No implementation timeline has been announced, but the conversation around innovative solutions is gaining momentum.
