Security: Minister Laments 1,499 Illegal Entry Points Into Nigeria

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has said that there are over 1,499 irregular (illegal) and 84 regular (legal) officially identified entry routes into the country.

Speaking at the ministerial platform of the Ministry of Interior in Abuja on Tuesday, Moro said the country had witnessed several instances where foreigners crossed the borders and perpetrated various types of crimes, including terrorism.

He disclosed that due to this development, more than 10,401 Nigeriens, Beninois and Cameroonians amongst others, were refused entry, while 8,337 Nigeriens were repatriated.

Moro said Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) would soon commence construction of border control plazas to strengthen effective surveillance around the nation’s borders

The decision, according to Moro, has become necessary to help the service in monitoring movement around the borders as Nigeria could not successfully monitor and survey its vast borders without the cooperation of neighbouring countries.

He disclosed that electronic passenger registration facilities were also being provided at land borders and that mobile border patrol units were being strengthened for effective surveillance.