Restrategizing Northern Nigerian Security Beyond Border Fences

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. Photo illustration by Dami Mojid / THE REPUBLIC.

THE MINISTRY OF SECURITY

On Tuesday, 3 June 2025, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, General Chris Musa, proposed the construction of fences around Nigeria’s borders at a border security conference in Abuja as an urgent measure in tackling insecurity and as a strategic step in the fight against terrorism. The defence chief called on the federal government to construct fences along all national borders, an urgent and strategic step in the fight against terrorism. This proposal from the defence chief comes as Nigeria intensifies its unending battle with networks of terrorist and insurgent groups intensifies who usually leverage Nigeria’s porous and unmanned border areas for cross-border crimes in the Sahel region. Musa said:

Border management is very critical. I have heard countries who had to fence their borders because of the level of insecurity they had. I know sometimes when you mention it people say, ‘no it is impossible.’ Pakistan fenced its 1,350 kilometres border with Afghanistan, which was the only time they had peace. Saudi Arabia and Iraq… 1,400 kilometres fenced completely can we start thinking of fencing our borders? We have 1,500 kilometres with Niger Republic, 1,900 kilometres with Cameroon, Chad is there, all over us surrounded by Francophone countries and the Sahel is heating up. If we do not do anything, when the Sahel falls it is Nigeria that everybody is interested in because they believe Nigeria is huge, Nigeria is big, Nigeria is rich and that is what we should start thinking about, how do we secure fully and take control of our borders? It is critical for our survival; it is critical for our sovereignty.