BORDER SECURITY AND THE THREAT OF INSURGENTS IN POST-COLONIAL WEST AFRICA: A REFLECTION ON NIGERIAN BORDERLINES

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the fight against transborder crimes at Nigerian borderlines in view of the challenges posed by the current fight against insurgents. The paper applauds the success recorded by the state in carrying out these tasks as the efforts of transnational organized crime and the spread of jihadist activities are yielding some gains. However, the paper observes that the oversubscription of Nigeria and some of its immediate neighbours to pseudo-nationalist policies hinder the implementation of broad-based regional strategies to address transnational threats. In addition, lack of political will, bad governance, and poorly equipped and motivated defense and security agencies coupled with other problems such as the porosity of the borders and noninvolvement of the people have continued to inhibit progress. It is the view of the project that these shortcomings be addressed for a more holistic success in combating border crimes and insurgency. It argues that for effective security and management of the Nigerian borders, dishonesty in the Nigerian system, must be dealt with by the successive governments. The work also noted that as the world is moving away from the traditional security to the nontraditional forms of security, which is all encircling in terms of caring for the general wellbeing of the citizens and the state, the Nigerian government is to be encouraged to follow this path. Human security does not just speak to the security of the state, but in addition it is concerned about the populace living in peace and having access to the basic needs. The government should be more concerned by carrying out its functions of providing basic daily necessities across the country.