CDS Musa Urges Border Fencing to Tackle Insecurity

At the inaugural Voice of Nigeria (VON) Security Summit held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, strongly advocated for the fencing of Nigeria’s borders as a crucial strategy to combat terrorism and other cross-border crimes.

The summit, themed “Renewed Hope Agenda: Citizens’ Engagement and National Security,” provided a platform for security stakeholders to deliberate on pressing national challenges.

Citing global precedents, General Musa highlighted the effectiveness of border fencing in enhancing national security. He referenced examples such as Pakistan, which fenced 1,350 kilometers of its border with Afghanistan, resulting in improved internal peace, and Saudi Arabia, which constructed a 1,400-kilometer fence along its border with Iraq.

He suggested that Nigeria could similarly benefit by securing its extensive borders—1,500 kilometers with the Niger Republic and 1,900 kilometers with Cameroon, with additional porous frontiers shared with Chad and other francophone nations in the Sahel.

“Border management is very critical,” the CDS stated. “We need to start thinking seriously about fencing our borders. People may say it is impossible, but other nations have done it, and it brought tangible security gains. The Sahel region is heating up, and if it collapses, Nigeria becomes the primary target.”

Beyond physical security, General Musa underscored the importance of good governance at the local level as a foundational step toward addressing insecurity. He argued that effective local governance and true autonomy for local governments are essential for delivering democratic dividends and preventing the root causes of conflict and unrest.

He further emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive national database that includes all Nigerian citizens and foreigners residing in the country. “Do we have a complete database as Nigerians?” he asked. “We need a census that captures every Nigerian, both at home and abroad. In many countries, if you commit a crime, you’re easily tracked because of robust data systems. We need the same here.”

In addressing the broader national security outlook, General Musa reiterated that no foreign entity will rescue Nigeria from its internal problems. “If the military fails, the nation fails—but Nigeria will not fail,” he declared resolutely. He stressed the crucial role of citizen collaboration in the fight against insecurity, calling for national unity and vigilance.

“It is the silence of citizens that enables terrorism to flourish. Who feeds these terrorists? Who supplies their weapons? We must ask ourselves these questions. We cannot afford to become refugees in our own country,” he warned.

Musa called on Nigerians to support the armed forces, particularly honouring those who have sustained injuries or lost their lives in defense of the country. “Our soldiers are heroes. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice. We must never forget them.”

The Defence Chief also drew attention to the destructive impact of misinformation and disinformation spread through media channels. He urged media practitioners to take up the responsibility of combating fake news and promoting national unity.

“We live in a time where people celebrate failure. But when the economy collapses, we all suffer. Some want Nigeria to disintegrate—we must never allow that to happen,” he asserted.

Echoing this sentiment, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening internal security through modern tools such as data, technology, and intelligence.

Represented by Zakari Mijinyawa, Director of Legal Services at the Office of the NSA, Ribadu revealed that security agencies have rescued over 1,200 kidnapped victims and dismantled more than 1,000 illegal refineries in the past year alone. Surveillance at land borders, he added, has improved by over 60%.

Ribadu reinforced the critical role of the media, urging journalists to prioritize responsible reporting and avoid content that could inflame tensions or mislead the public. “Responsible journalism is a national duty,” he stated.

The NSA called on Nigerian youths to assume active leadership roles in shaping the nation’s future, noting that the youth population holds the power to drive the kind of change Nigeria needs.