AREGBESOLA AND MODERN BORDER SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, is carrying out a reform within the available resources on the type of technologies that are currently being used to secure our borders.  As Aregbesola renews his focus on immigration enforcement and border security under the Buhari administration, it is important to review how much money is required on these initiatives and what outcomes it will produce.

He is examining the strengths and weaknesses of various technologies to protect our borders. He is examining the technologies that are currently available or in development that could improve security at the borders within the available resources in Nigeria. How should the effectiveness of technologies be evaluated? How can the proper balance between deployment of technology and deployment of personnel be determined?

Aregbesola is focusing on an array of technologies that are either currently available commercially, adaptable from military applications, or in development, could be deployed along the borders to enhance surveillance of human or vehicular traffic. Some experts suggest that an integrated system of advanced surveillance technologies, deployed along the borders with the necessary communications and information technology infrastructure, could provide more effective security in remote areas than would be provided by physical barriers.

According to Aregbesola, the impediments to the deployment of border surveillance technologies include the cost of the technologies and their operation; the sensitivity of high-tech surveillance equipment to extreme temperatures and harsh environments; and the need to efficiently monitor, analyze, and respond to the potentially vast quantities of information generated by such equipment.

Aregbesola’s approach of keeping our borders safe has been marked by an increasing focus on high-tech and effective identity-based security.

Recently, Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior said that the Ministry of Interior has reached an appreciable level in the e-border programme with Huawei that will require the installation of surveillance equipment. A pilot e-border system is already connected with the newly commissioned NIS Data Management Centre at its national headquarters in Abuja. When the project is completed, we will have six mega control posts, 16 medium control posts, 64 mini control posts, totalling 86 border posts with command-and-control centre in the technology building. We believe strongly that it will largely address the security threats we are facing from land borders. In addition, the Ministry of Interior has reduced the period of stay for migrants before registering with NIS from 90 days to 30 days. Also, immigration has been directed to concentrate more on the borders by deploying 50 per cent of its personnel to border outposts.

In fact, Aregbesola believes that innovation in technologies can help reduce risk and improve border security, while enhancing customer service delivery. Despite this near consensus, many agencies have not yet deployed these technologies due to significant implementation obstacles. In the coming years, emerging technologies will fundamentally change border management in Nigeria, creating huge opportunities for industry transformation. While some agencies, have taken steps to deploy these technologies, most are struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation.

Globalization and the rising threat of terrorism are just two of the many issues challenging border agencies’ ability to secure the swift movement of people and goods across borders. At the same time, emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT,, blockchain, biometrics, data analytics and machine learning have introduced new risks and opportunities, requiring a rapid and innovative response from industry leaders.

Aregbesola has started the process of digital imaging and its accessories of fingerprint, retina scan and voice print, identity disguise is nearly impossible.

Also, having a data bank and data processing centre provides access to information at the touch of a button. This makes it possible to monitor all entries and exits at borders and have real time information on all migrants. Regrettably, this is still unavailable in most African countries that still rely on Euro-America for important information on persons of interest who may be passing through their borders.

Happily, Nigeria stands tall to be counted among the nations of the world to have acquired this capability. The Nigeria Immigration Service has activated the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) which enables the agency to coordinate movement of persons at the four airport borders and directly transmit information on missing and stolen passports to INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon.

The main challenge now is on how to effectively use technology to monitor and patrol the 4,047km land borders which comprise of 1,690km with Cameroon, 87km with Chad, 1,497 with Niger, 733 with Benin Republic and a coastal line of Gulf of Guinea with 853km. But we are working hard at this and we shall soon crack the nut.

In August 2019, Nigeria closed land borders with Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic. While humans still move freely, goods were not allowed. The reason for this was to stem smuggling, which was hurting the Nigeria’s economy. Again, at the outbreak of Covid 19 in March 2020, Nigeria closed the border against movement of goods and persons. This measure, especially the halt in human movements, came with difficulties, but has had positive impact on the Nigerian economy. Agriculture products, especially rice and poultry farmers came back to business big time and the industry has received a big boost since then.

But the fundamental lesson in this is that Nigeria’s production is still low, making us to be at the receiving end of trade, requiring border closure to correct the imbalance. If we have surplus trade in goods and services with our neighbours, we will be loath to close our borders. It is therefore a national call to increase our production and be a dominant player in African trade.

This by no means vitiates the need for vigilance and taking preventive measures in checking influx of arms, narcotics, unhealthy foods, spread of diseases and trafficking in persons, associated with transnational movements across borders.

Border security depends on the smart and efficient use of available resources. At the same, border enforcement cannot and should not be done in isolation. Instead, it must be examined in the larger context of reforms needed for the entire immigration system.

Inwalomhe Donald writes from Abuja