FEC approves N52bn to monitor Nigeria borders

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N52billion to monitor the country’s borders against smugglers.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this to newsmen after a meeting in Abuja on Thursday. 

He said the contract would cover 86 border posts and all the 1,400 illegal routes being used for smuggling and other crimes.

He said the pilot system has already been installed at two border posts, disclosing that the information would be available real-time, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Dambazau said: “Council approved N52billion for e-border solution. This process started in 2012, but we picked it up to move forward when we came in. The project is to be completed within the next two years.

“There is a pilot project already which has been very successful; it was installed to monitor two borders.

“This project is going to cover 86 border posts in the country. We will be able to also monitor 1,400 illegal routes that are used for smuggling and all kinds of cross border criminal activities.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service will work very closely with other services; when it comes to response, with the Air Force and the Army units deployed near the borders; with the Customs in terms of smuggling. The information will be available real-time 24/7."