In a bid to stop smuggling and cross border criminal activities, the Nigerian government on Thursday approved N52 billion for electronic surveillance of its land borders.
Minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) disclosed this to journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dambazau said the process, which started in 2012, will be completed in the next two years.
He said a pilot project of the surveillance already installed at two borders has been “very successful”.
Noting that Nigeria’s borders are very porous, diverse and it is impossible to man these borders physically, he stressed the need for modern technology to be able to monitor the borders.
“It is on this note that I presented a memo today for this eBorder solution. This process started in 2012 but we picked it up to move forward when we came in. The project is to be completed within the next two years and it will cost about N52 billion.
“This project is going to cover 86 border posts in the country. We will be able to also monitor 1,400 illegal routes that are used for smuggling and all kinds of cross border criminal activities.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service will work very closely with other services. When it comes to response, with the air force and the army units deployed near the borders, with the customs in terms of smuggling. The information will be available real-time 24/7,” he said.
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