The Federal Government has disclosed that 332 migrants were recently prevented from entering Nigeria through the Seme border, after immigration officials discovered they were travelling with irregular or invalid documents.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, revealed the development at a stakeholder sensitisation seminar in Abuja, themed “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated Response.”
She stated that the migrants attempted to cross into the country but were stopped by border patrol teams due to the absence of valid travel credentials.
Nandap also reported that 294 Nigerians suspected of involvement in migration-related smuggling activities linked to the “Japa syndrome” were denied exit at the same border point.
Additionally, 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were rescued during operations.
Calling for a unified national response, she stressed that migrant smuggling has become more sophisticated and transnational, posing serious threats to the safety, dignity, and security of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria’s border security, revealing that 1,894 out of the nation’s 1,978 entry points remain unmanned, leaving them susceptible to illegal activities.
Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Border Security, Isa Anka, raised the alarm during the inauguration of the panel in Abuja.
He cited a recent ResearchGate report indicating that only 84 entry points are officially manned by security operatives, despite Nigeria’s vast 36,450 km land and sea borders.
Anka blamed the situation on multiple factors, including inadequate funding, shortage of personnel, poor logistics, outdated surveillance equipment and difficult terrains such as forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains.
“Nigeria covers 923,768 square kilometres, with a huge stretch of land bordering Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon,”
he noted.
“Over the years, we have seen increased illegal cross-border activities, from arms smuggling to human and drug trafficking.”
“Our borders remain porous with numerous unofficial routes, and the lack of resources severely undermines effective policing.”
The lawmaker also lamented that despite government spending exceeding ₦9 trillion in recent years, the security outcome has not matched the investment.
He assured Nigerians that the committee would develop concrete strategies to curb illegal cross-border activities and minimize threats to national security.
In his remarks, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen emphasised the urgency of strengthening the country’s border security framework.
He described Nigeria’s porous borders as both an economic and existential challenge.
He urged security agencies to work more collaboratively, improve intelligence sharing, ensure transparent use of budgeted funds, and involve border communities in safeguarding national entry points.
