Hahaha: Illegal Immigrants: FG Uncovers 1,497 Illegal Routes •To Build 84 Border Plazas

The Federal Government yesterday said it has identified 1,497 illegal routes used by illegal immigrants into the country. Hence to fight trans border crimes and reduced porosity in the nation borders, Federal Government would build 84 border plazas within Nigerian territories.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro told State House correspondents, that government was concerned about the porosity of the borders, hence it has in conjunction with Galaxy Backbone and National Identification Commission moved to ensure adequate data capture of all persons that enter and leave, as well as all persons including Nigerians resident in Nigeria.
Moro however stated that these plazas when approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), would be built on Nigerian territories and not on the land of the country sharing the border.

“At the moment we are at the drawing board, so without prejudice to when this issue will come to the Federal Executive Council, costing them for example, most of our plazas Seme borders for instance is located in Republic of Benin and so enforcement becomes a problem. For instance if there is a breach of our law in Seme border, we will be unable to enforce Nigerian laws because that part of land is in the Republic of Benin. So we are thinking of placing our plazas in our territories so we can tackle any breach,” he said.

The Interior Minister also noted that just like Nigerians, the government was concerned on allegations that most members of the Boko Haram were foreigners who accessed Nigeria through its porous borders and hence its decisions.
“It is as a result of this concern that the Federal Government has started to increase attention to addressing this border porosity. Only recently, Mr. President ordered the closure of some of our borders and posts and only recently too he had declared a state of emergency in some local governments in some of the flash point states and immigration officials have been drafted to add to the existing operatives on ground with officers coordinating these activities.

He reiterated government’s resolve to capture the biometric data of all persons that enters and leave Nigeria, “this is the primary concern for Nigeria, this is a base that Nigeria does not at the moment have comprehensively and this is what we are pursuing vigorously”. He added that the government was entering a partnership with Galaxy Backbone, which is the major platform for capturing this data and the national identity commission which is in a move to ensure we have adequate data record of all persons that enters and leaves Jos and all persons including Nigerians resident in Nigeria. We will get there soon.”