Porous Borders and Nigeria's National Security

The purpose of this study is to discuss the porosity of Nigeria’s borders which has resulted in unrelenting inflows of voluntary and involuntary migrants into the country. Porosity, smuggling, illegal migration, and transnational crimes plague Nigeria’s vast borders of land and this, of course, poses major security risks and threats to Nigeria. The malicious operations of the deadly terrorist group known as Boko Haram, which have put lives and property in danger in Nigeria, could be linked to the influx of migrants from Niger and Chad. One of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria today is international terrorism that is aided by religious extremism, porosity of borderline and cross-border security challenges and crime. This project aimed to investigate the core causes of porous borders, as well as their repercussions, and to devise measures to improve border security and national sovereignty. This study also contributes to the existing body of knowledge on porous borders and its impact on national security. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, security agencies, and relevant stakeholders in formulating evidence-based strategies to address the challenges posed by illegal immigrants in Nigeria. Using a qualitative approach to research, this study utilized primary and secondary method of data collection. To obtain primary data, the research also involved interviews with stakeholders specialized in the field of border management. A total of seven individuals were interviewed for this research project, 3 from Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and 4 from Nigerian Custom Service (NCS). Secondary data involved gathering information from textbooks, journals, articles, published and unpublished works, and the internet. This study looks at the consequences of porous borders on Nigerian national security via the perspectives of Rational Choice Theory and Securitization Theory. Rational Choice Theory provides insights into border security decision-making processes, highlighting how policymakers consider costs and benefits to achieve optimal results in resource allocation, risk assessment, and strategic planning. Securitization Theory provides a paradigm for understanding how challenges such as permeable borders are socially manufactured as existential dangers, with a focus on power dynamics and political actors. The findings show that porous borders are characterized by limited monitoring, insufficient manpower, and difficulty discriminating between authorized and illicit crossings. Economic incentives, climate conditions, and sociocultural factors all compound these vulnerabilities over time. Porous borders increase the risk of smuggling, human trafficking, insurgency movements, and economic instability. Armed factions and insurgencies in surrounding countries exacerbate Nigeria’s security situation, needing strong cross-border collaboration and strategic solutions. Stronger international collaborations within frameworks like ECOWAS, significant investments in border security infrastructure, and the utilization of contemporary technologies for enforcement and surveillance are among the recommendations. Encouraging legal enforcement and reducing corruption through policy reforms is also essential to increasing border security effectiveness. Nigeria can successfully reduce the multifaceted challenges posed by porous borders and maintain its national security and socio-economic stability by tackling these concerns thoroughly.