Despite the Federal Government’s multi-billion-naira border surveillance systems launched in 2019, illegal migrants, some of whom have been identified as bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, continue to cross into Nigeria from the Republics of Benin, Chad, Niger, Mali and Cameroon.

This is as the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said e-border surveillance is now being mounted across the nation’s borders with its neighbouring countries.

“As we speak, more than half of our borders have been automated. There are visuals, and a lot of processes going on now. So, effectively, there is e-border surveillance now in our borders.

“By October (2024), we will be done with the first phase of the e-border surveillance project, including our marine borders. Now, we have the command and control for air and land. You cannot secure your borders effectively without technology,” Tunji-Ojo said in a live national television programme in May 2024.

At the launch of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex in early December 2024, the minister said about 250 trained Immigration Service personnel run 24-hour shifts at the e-border control centre.

However, some foreigners still crossed to Nigeria from the Republic of Benin through the Baruten/Kaiama border posts despite the closure of the border by the FG.

Checks from residents of border communities in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara state revealed that illegal immigrants still crossed the border into the country daily.

The immediate past chairman of Baruten Local Government Council, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said that citizens of the Benin Republic are still migrating into the country through several illegal routes.

Abdullahi said, “Although the border posts have been closed since 2020 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to beef up security, the border closure has not stopped citizens of Benin Republic who are our neighbours from coming into the country.”

“The e-border control system installed to stop the illegal immigrants from coming to the country had not stopped their citizens from entering Nigeria,” Abdullahi, who ended his tenure as the council chairman in September 2024, added.

The Federal Executive Council approved N52bn for the e-border surveillance system in 2019 to monitor and provide real-time information from major border posts nationwide.

However, the project faced delays due to funding challenges and did not commence until 2022. Nigeria’s extensive borders, covering approximately 5,330 kilometres, have numerous illegal entry points and present ongoing security challenges.

The Nigeria Immigration Service says it has since deployed advanced e-border solutions to over 80 crossing points nationwide, marking the project’s first phase. It says the e-border system offers real-time, 24/7 monitoring and intelligence, enabling better tracking and management of border activities.

Speaking in a telephone with The PUNCH on Monday, the Emir of Yashikira, a border community in Baruten LGA, Umoru Usman, said foreigners cross into the locality daily.

Usman explained, “Despite the border closure and the e-border control system installed by the Federal Government to stop illegal immigration into the country, which are all moves by the government to ensure security, the people from the Benin Republic who are our neighbours still crossed the border. Though we cannot give the figure, people are still crossing the borders on a daily basis.”

When reached for the comments, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kenneth Udo, did not respond to calls to his mobile line. Also, text messages sent to his mobile and WhatsApp number were not answered as of this report.

Meanwhile, the Eselu of Iselu, Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, on Monday, said that the purported N9bn e-border control system project initiated under the Buhari government has failed to check the influx of illegal migrants into the country.

The royal father said there has been a steady increase in the number of illegal migrants moving into the country from the Benin Republic due to the absence of tangible barricades or landmarks demarcating the borders of both countries.

He attributed the influx of illegal migrants for the surge in crime.

Oba Akinyemi said, “The N9bn e-border control system project is a white elephant project just like the botched Nigeria Airways” under the same government of President Buhari.

He expressed doubts about the existence of any e-border control system along the land border with neighbouring Benin Republic.

He noted, “This issue of N9bn e-border control system project is a white elephant project under Buhari’s administration just like the Nigeria Airways which newspaper reports said that some people went to borrow an aircraft somewhere, branded it and call it Nigeria Airways.

“Maybe the e-border control system is at the airport, I don’t know. But for the land border area, nothing like that exists here. In fact, there is a greater influx of Beninois into the country.

“If you come to our area, there nothing so visible demarcating the two countries, just as Nigerians are going into their country, the same way we are having them, the Beninois also coming in droves, it is like we are sharing the same country.”

“They are even laying claims to some of our lands. Maybe the border control system is somewhere in the North, but I have not seen anything like that here. I am one of the advocates for the border commission; where are they? What are they doing?” he queried.

The Eselu also decried the huge infrastructural deficit at border communities, saying that things are beginning to change with the interventions from the state government and the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, fondly called Yayi.

He explained, “I have said it countless times: all we see is the budget; we don’t know where the money goes. Maybe in the history of our area, they sank a borehole after PUNCH wrote about the plight of a community without water and all that.

“The infrastructural deficit at the border area is very high, and the children do not have access to basic education. Kudos to the state government for doing this anyway. The state took it upon itself to bring in some schools and build some infrastructure, but it is not enough.

“We also appreciate Senator Solomon Adeola for what he’s doing to enhance the development of the border communities. The reason we are also seeing crime going up is due to the influx of foreigners who come into the country without being checked; they could carry some weapons, they will come into the country, do whatever they like and move back to their country, that’s the problem.”

A resident of Ilara in Imeko-Afon Local Government, Mr Ade Raheem, also argued that there has been no change in the inflow and outflow of people between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Taiwo said, “Our case is even peculiar because about 35 per cent of Ilara town is in the Republic of Benin while the remaining 65 per cent is in Nigeria. There is nothing so visible demarcating Nigeria and the Republic of Benin other than a crossbar, so people come into Nigeria without any hindrance. Likewise, Nigerians too, go into the Benin without any problem.

“I am not aware of any e-border control system; maybe that could be in the barrack of the immigration which is at the outskirts of the town, but people have continued to move freely into the country from the Benin Republic like it was from time immemorial.”

In a similar development, residents of Maigatari, a border community in Jigawa State, claimed that the system was ineffective.

Jigawa, a northern border state, has a unique dynamic with its neighbouring country, Niger Republic. Its proximity to Niger Republic has nurtured a long-standing relationship between residents of both countries.

In exclusive interviews some residents of Maigatari confirmed having family ties, business relationships and even own farms across the border.

According to them, this has created a sense of community and cooperation between the two nations.

A resident of Maigatari, Abdullahi Maiwada, stated, “Illegal immigrants from Niger Republic still find their way into Nigeria. We’ve lived with our Nigerien counterparts for generations.”

Maiwada added, “We have family ties, business relationships, and even own farms across the border. It’s impossible to separate us.”

Another town resident, Sani Dabo, pointed out that the weekly markets, where people from both countries gather to buy and sell goods, are still thriving.

“These markets have been in existence for decades,” said Sani Dabo, a trader in the Maigatari market. “Nigeriens provide a vital source of income for many of us, and we can’t just shut them down,” he stated.Dabo also highlighted that “the issue of illegal immigration in Jigawa State is complex, with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between residents of Nigeria and Niger Republic.”

When contacted on the issue, the District Head of Maigatari, ‘Sarkin Dawakin Gumel’ Alhaji Muhammad Alhassan, noted that the historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Niger Republic cannot be ignored.

“We’ve always had a cordial relationship with our neighbours from Niger. While we appreciate the government’s efforts to secure our borders, we must also consider the historical and cultural ties that bind us,” the district head said.

The monarch revealed, “We’re not just neighbours; we’re family. Therefore, his sentiment underscores the need for a nuanced approach towards addressing the issue of illegal immigration not only in this area but across all states that share a border with another country.”

According to the district head, the relationship between the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic in the border community of Maigatari has always been peaceful. ‘’We’ve lived together for generations, and our people have always coexisted peacefully,” he said.

“We have a strong tradition of hospitality and mutual respect, and we’ve never had any major conflicts,” he emphasised.

Alhassan also noted that the government authorities responsible for securing the border are doing their best to ensure that anyone crossing the border does so in accordance with the law.

“The immigration officials, customs officials, and other security personnel are all doing their jobs to ensure that the border is secure and that anyone crossing into Nigeria does so with the proper documentation and clearance,” he said, adding that “We’re grateful for their efforts, and we’re confident that they will continue to do their best to keep our borders secure.”

For his part, the Chairman of Maigatari Local Government Area, Usman Na’Allah, in a telephone call said that the e-border control system has helped reduce the influx of illegal immigrants, but more needed to be done.

“We need to strengthen our border security and provide economic opportunities for our people to reduce the temptation to cross the border illegally and this is a call to action for the government,” he stressed.

A member of the vigilante team in Maigatari, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that despite the presence of security personnel, illegal immigrants still find ways into the country.

He noted, “We do our best to patrol the borders, but it’s a vast area, and we can’t be everywhere at once and this highlights the challenges faced by security personnel.”

Meanwhile, concerns continue to grow in Taraba’s border communities over illegal immigrants. Residents and stakeholders in Taraba State’s border communities who spoke to one of our correspondents said the illegal immigrants from Cameroon have continued to cross into the country, raising concerns about security and competition over resources.

Residents of the border towns in the state, including Abong in Kurmi Local Government, Kashimbilla in Takum and Hainare in Sardauna LGAs, said porous borders and inadequate security measures enable the influx of undocumented immigrants.

A local chief in one of the border towns in Kurmi, Danjuma Luka, expressed frustration over the persistent challenge.

“We are still seeing foreigners coming into our communities without any form of documentation. Many of them claim to be refugees, but some have been linked to criminal activities, which is alarming,” he said.

Another resident of Kurmi, who declined to identify himself for security reasons, confirmed the influx of undocumented migrants, attributing it to the challenging terrain of the border areas.

“Taraba State shares borders with Cameroon, and our rugged landscape makes it easy for people to cross undetected. We need more Federal Government support to monitor these areas effectively,” he said.

Leader of the vigilante group in Hinare, Umar Saidu, who said they are often the first line of defence in the communities, told one of our correspondents in a phone interview that they have intercepted undocumented immigrants on several occasions.

A vigilante leader in Ussa, Tanimu Hassan, said, “We work day and night to secure our communities, but the lack of resources and advanced technology hampers our efforts. We hand over illegal immigrants to immigration officers, but it’s a recurring problem.”

When reached for comments, the Jalingo Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service did not respond. Also, the chairmen of the affected local government councils in the border communities declined to comment on the issue.

However, sources in the command admitted that limited manpower and insufficient logistics continue to undermine effective border patrols.

“We are aware of the situation and are working to address it, but the challenges are enormous,” one of the sources in the agency said.

In the South-South state of Cross River, monarchs and youth leaders have pledged to support the fight against illegal migration.

Traditional rulers from Ekpri Ikang and Ikang Town of Bakassi Local Government Area unanimously pledged their unwavering dedication and commitment to fighting illegal immigration in the area.

The monarchs made the remarks in an interview with one of our correspondents, affirming their resolve to promote peace, security and development in the region.

The village head of Ikang Town community, Chief Antigha Cobham, commended the Federal Government for ensuring a strong security system in the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

Cobham noted that the security personnel deployed to the community are dedicated and committed to peacekeeping and surveillance.

He said, “Before now, we used to have cases and clashes of illegal immigration. This community has its border with Cameroon. We owe it a duty to do our best to protect our people by encouraging them to report all suspicions of illegal immigration to security. That is why all the cases of illegal immigration we used to hear are now things of the past.”

“Let me especially thank the Federal Government for the efforts in fighting these illegal immigrants. As traditional rulers, we are doing our very best to support the government and we shall report all forms of illegal immigration to the security agencies,” he disclosed.

He said that the royal fathers would continue collaborating with the security agencies to identify and report all illegal migration cases to the appropriate authorities.

Another member of the Ikang Traditional Rulers Council, Bassey Effiom, called for unity of purpose among all citizens and residents of the state to tackle illegal immigration.

He said, “We must all come together no matter our political leanings or religious inclinations because this issue of illegal migration does not know political party or religious orientation. It is only through collective and focused efforts that we can win the war to guarantee the safety of our people.”

He lauded the state governor, Bassey Otu, and President Bola Tinubu for their proactive leadership and support to the people in the border community, and advised the citizens to abide by the guidelines issued by the government on illegal migration.

A youth leader, Felix Egbe, said the Bakassi Border is closed and well-guarded by the security agencies, including the Nigerian Customs Service.

Egbe revealed, “Some of them who used to cross over here are not coming again because the border is closed. Today is a very big market day; unlike before, they used to cross over here to buy things.

“Some of them will mask themselves and cross the water just to come and buy stuff here. But for now, security has taken over all the places and there are no reports of such acts again.

“Some of them who used to cross to our community will come and buy Nigerian-made drinks like beer and alcoholic brands. But, we have not seen them for some time now because the security system is very tight.”

PUNCH