332 Migrants Blocked from Entering Nigeria as Reps Raise Alarm over 1,894 Unmanned Borders

The Federal Government has announced that 332 migrants were denied entry into Nigeria through the Seme border after immigration officials discovered that they lacked valid travel documents.

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, disclosed this during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation seminar themed “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated Response” held in Abuja.

According to her, 294 Nigerians suspected of involvement in smuggling activities tied to the “Japa syndrome” were also stopped from leaving the country, while 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were rescued during the same operation.

Nandap emphasised the growing complexity of migrant smuggling, describing it as a serious transnational crime that endangers national security and the dignity of Nigerians. She called for a coordinated national strategy involving multiple agencies to effectively tackle the problem.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has expressed concern over Nigeria’s porous borders, revealing that 1,894 of the nation’s 1,978 entry points remain unmanned, leaving them open to illegal migration, smuggling, and trafficking.

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Border Security, Isa Anka, raised the issue during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja. Citing a recent Research Gate report, he stated that only 84 border points are officially manned, a situation he described as “alarming” given Nigeria’s 36,450 kilometres of land and sea borders.

Anka attributed the lapses to inadequate funding, poor logistics, outdated surveillance systems, and the challenging geography of many border regions, such as forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains.

He lamented that despite spending over ₦9 trillion on security in recent years, Nigeria continues to face widespread border insecurity. The committee, he assured, will develop actionable strategies to curb illegal cross-border activities and strengthen national security.

In his remarks, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen underscored the seriousness of the committee’s assignment, noting that porous borders pose both economic and existential threats. He urged relevant agencies to work in synergy, share intelligence, and ensure transparency and accountability in the use of security funds.

Tajudeen further called for stronger community participation and a unified operational framework to protect Nigeria’s borders and restore citizens’ confidence in the country’s border management system.