adminreporter
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has proposed fencing the country’s borders with Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad to address escalating insecurity, particularly due to foreign fighter infiltration.
Speaking at a security conference in Abuja on June 3, 2025, Musa highlighted the 16-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, which has strained Nigeria’s military, killed civilians, and displaced tens of thousands.
He cited Pakistan’s 1,350 km fence with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia’s 1,400 km barrier with Iraq as successful examples, emphasizing that border management is critical for Nigeria’s sovereignty and survival.
Nigeria’s longest border, 1,975 km with Cameroon, is a Boko Haram hotspot, while the 1,500 km border with Niger and 85 km with Chad are also vulnerable.
Musa noted Nigeria’s perceived wealth makes it a target, necessitating urgent border control measures. This is the first time a top Nigerian official has publicly suggested such a measures
