There are 1,497 illegal entry points in Nigeria and only 84 legally recognised

 Comrade Abba Moro,The Minister of Interior, has said there are about 1, 497 illegal entry points in Nigeria, against the 84 legally-recognised entry points.

He said the country required about $244 million to install electronic surveillance gadgets in the 84 legal and 1,497 illegal entry points.

Moro spoke in Abuja yesterday when he briefed the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s national secretariat.

He said the United States Department had offered to assist Nigeria in the installation of the facilities, as part of the US international war against terrorism.
According to him, the US Department had already picked quotation from a Chinese firm for the components of the facilities under a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Moro acknowledged the porous state of the nation’s borders, stressing, however, that the illegal 1,497 entry points will be effectively policed when the surveillance gadgets are put in place.
The minister said: “We are making efforts to procure appropriate modern technology to be installed along our borders and we are collaborating with the US State Department and a private Chinese company for which we had initially received a cost of $244 million.

“With the assistance of the US State Department, we realised that some components of the offer we got from the private firm were contained in what the State Department would be offering us.
“When we have done this, the temptation of illegal entry into Nigeria will be reduced.”

He said his ministry was partnering the Border Development Agency for the construction of plazas at the legal 84 entry points.
This, according to him, would promote commerce along the border communities and reduce illegal activities.

The Nation