The Federal Government has established an Integrated Border Governance Committee as part of its efforts to strengthen border security in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the 13-member committee during a presentation on border management and control by a consultant at his office in Abuja.
Afonja Ajibola Fatai, Head of Press and Public Relations, stated in a release in Abuja that the Minister set up the committee to conduct a needs assessment of the nation’s borders.
He urged the committee to engage in robust deliberation and formulate an implementable border management plan to secure the country.
The Committee members were selected from the Ministry and its Agencies: the Director of Joint Services serves as the Chairman, and other members include the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics and the Director of Legal Affairs.
Other committee members comprise representatives from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Border Community Development Agency, Community Boundary Commission, and the Consultant.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that what is of paramount importance to him regarding border management is the aspect of internal security.
He stated that this is a massive task requiring the collaboration of all critical stakeholders.
He illustrated a scenario where a Nigerian student residing in a border community attends school in a neighbouring foreign country, adding that the loyalty of that Nigerian would naturally be to the foreign country.
The Minister highlighted the necessity for the country to cease paying lip service to border management, stressing that sufficient budgetary allocation must be made available for the provision of social infrastructure to these adjacent border communities so that the people feel a sense of belonging to their country.
The committee has a timeline of eighteen weeks to submit their report.
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