“There is no definite time when this exercise will be over,” Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno, has said concerning the joint military exercise that has led to the closure of major land borders with the country’s neighbouring countries.
The border operation exercise, aimed at curtailing the smuggling of banned goods into Nigeria from the neighbouring countries of Benin and Niger, commenced on August 20, 2019. It was initially scheduled to last for 28 days.
But speaking with journalists at the weekend, Monguno said the Federal Government would not bow to any form of blackmail antics over the closure of its land border.
Mongono said that some neighbouring countries are already talking to the Federal Government for reopening of the shut land borders.
Scoring the taskforce on the joint border security high, the NSA said the Federal Government was determine to give support to all security agencies to enable them deal with smuggling.
He said, “One of the key issues government is concerned with is the security of the country, this is aside economic issues. From where I operate, I see a lot of things concerning insecurity.
“Smuggling is one major source of insecurity. With the level of indolence on the part of smugglers, we are determined to deal with the problem, no matter the amount of money being moved around by those involved or blackmail.
“If it is in the interest of neighbouring countries to have all these dangerous items transit their territories into Nigeria, then it is in our national interest to shut our borders. The ongoing operation swift has been very successful.”
