Nigeria Defence Chief Proposes Complete Border Fencing to Curb Insecurity

Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called for the complete fencing of Nigeria's borders with its four neighbors—Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad—to curb the movement of armed criminals and terrorists amid escalating insecurity. Musa cited successful border fences in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as precedents and emphasized that border management is critical for Nigeria's survival and sovereignty, especially given the ongoing insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP. He also stressed the importance of good governance at the local level and the need for a comprehensive national census to build a database of Nigerians worldwide, which would aid in crime tracking and national security. The Defence Chief warned that the instability in the Sahel region threatens Nigeria directly and that no external force will liberate Nigeria, underscoring the need for national unity and citizen collaboration. Despite challenges and negative narratives, Musa expressed confidence that the Nigerian Armed Forces will not fail and that the country remains resilient. This is the first public advocacy by a top Nigerian official for border fencing as a security strategy.