“Ribadu Reveals Hidden Weakness Fueling Terrorism in Nigeria — Says Criminals Are Exploiting It”

ABUJA — National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has identified Nigeria’s porous borders as one of the biggest factors driving terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes across the country.
Ribadu made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening of the 15th National Security Seminar themed, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Border Security Architecture for National Stability.” He was represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ambassador Yazid Gbemudu.
According to the NSA, Nigeria’s vast land and maritime borders provide significant opportunities for trade, regional integration, and economic growth, but they also create security vulnerabilities that are being exploited by criminal and terrorist groups.
He warned that weak border governance has become a major national security challenge, allowing the movement of illegal arms, trafficked persons, smugglers, and irregular migrants across the country’s borders.
“These challenges highlight the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to border management. Weak border governance creates vulnerabilities that criminal and terrorist networks can exploit, thereby undermining national security and development efforts,” he said.
Ribadu noted that the National Border Management Strategy remains a key component of Nigeria’s security framework, designed to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve surveillance capabilities, modernize border operations, and enhance infrastructure at entry and exit points.
He added that the deployment of Border Management Information Systems and other technological tools has improved traveler screening, migration monitoring, and data collection across critical border locations.
The NSA also called for the full implementation of an integrated border management system to improve collaboration among security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies.
He stressed that effective intelligence sharing, joint operations, and harmonized border procedures are crucial to tackling modern security threats.
Ribadu further advocated increased investment in technology-driven security solutions, including biometric identification systems, advanced surveillance technologies, and data-driven frameworks to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and safeguard national stability.