FG to Deploy Drones to Monitor Nigeria’s Vast Borders

The Federal Government has finalized plans to deploy drones to monitor and protect Nigeria’s vast borders with its neighbors.

Already, it is in talks with Huawei of China, for the acquisition and deployment of artificial intelligence to secure the borders.

Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Caroline Adepoju, made this known at a news conference to mark the 2023 international migration day.

She said the drone to be deployed would not be armed with bombs but used for surveillance and gathering intelligence.

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We don’t use bombs, ours is to survey and gather intelligence. We also have boots on the ground, she added, saying the Service was improving existing measures to ensure the security of Nigerian borders.

Speaking about the activities of smugglers, the CG said the NIS had arrested no fewer than 522 human traffickers and their victims in 2023.

She described the smuggling of migrants as a serious transnational crime that posed significant challenges to governments around the world, including Nigeria.

Adepoju said that the illicit trade not only exploited vulnerable individuals and put their lives at risk but also undermined the integrity of national borders and security.

The NIS boss said that the International Migrants’ Day was meant to galvanize efforts to prevent and combat crime, protect migrants, and address the root causes and factors that contributed to the proliferation of human smuggling networks.

As a nation, Nigeria stands firm in its commitment to prevent and combat it, protecting the welfare and dignity of our citizens, she said.

The week-long activities will involve a sensitization program in parks, schools, and other public places across the country.