Nigeria’s Borders Under Siege from Criminal Networks, Says Ribadu

National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has identified Nigeria's porous borders as one of the major drivers of terrorism, arms trafficking, human smuggling and other transnational crimes threatening national stability.

Ribadu made the observation on Tuesday while declaring open the 15th National Security Seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Defence College in Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy at ONSA, Ambassador Yazid Gbemudu, Ribadu noted that while Nigeria's extensive land and maritime borders offer significant economic and trade opportunities, they also expose the country to serious security threats.

According to him, criminal and terrorist organisations continue to exploit weaknesses in border governance to move weapons, recruit operatives and facilitate illegal activities. He stressed the need for a coordinated and technology-driven border management framework capable of addressing emerging security challenges.

The NSA highlighted the National Border Management Strategy as a key component of Nigeria's security architecture and called for the full implementation of integrated border management systems.

He advocated increased deployment of biometric identification systems, advanced surveillance technologies and improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms among security agencies.

Ribadu also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration, noting that many of the threats confronting Nigeria transcend national boundaries and require collective responses from neighbouring countries.

The seminar brought together military officers, diplomats, security experts, academics and policymakers to discuss strategies for strengthening Nigeria's border security and safeguarding national stability.