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Incompetence Is Responsible For Nigeria’s Border Porousness – Security Expert

Security consultant and former British Police Officer, Vince Onyekwelu says a high level of incompetence is responsible for the porous nature of the Nigerian borders. … Continue reading Incompetence Is Responsible For Nigeria’s Border Porousness – Security Expert


Security consultant and former British Police Officer, Vince Onyekwelu says a high level of incompetence is responsible for the porous nature of the Nigerian borders.

He said this in reaction to the recent seizure of 440 assorted firearms by operatives of the Nigerian Customs at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos on Wednesday.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Breakfast Show, Sunrise Daily, Mr Vince explained that Nigeria doesn’t have border protection security and that a country without national security borders or proper Identification systems can’t claim or prove that they are on top of their game.

He, however, noted that Nigeria has the capacity to handle an I.D system.

“We have what it takes to have an I.D system because the BVN, permanent and temporary voters card, national passport, driver’s license are all biometric data based, we have about six biometric databases but we don’t have a national I.D card”.

Speaking further on the insecurity, he explained that one of the most volatile regions in Africa today is Libya and going by the geographical structure of Africa and Nigeria’s closeness to Libya, there is a high tendency that arms can be easily smuggled into the country, especially with its currently weak border security system.

No Sentiments

Apart from the proper I.D system, the security expert, therefore, suggested that there should be proper border demarcation and that should be done without sentiments.

According to him, if strict measures are not immediately applied, there would always be instances whereby criminals from across borders would comfortably reside within Nigeria.

“In Nigeria, there should be a demarcation, in some parts you may use manual border policing and in some parts, you have to apply technology”.

Mr Vince added that the Nigerian Police has the capacity to handle terrorism in the country if given the necessary resources and training.

He, however, noted that only people who have the, passion and skill set to manage public relations should be employed into the system.