Abbas spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the House of
Representatives ad hoc committee on border security.

Represented by Ali Isa, the minority whip, Abbas said the
green chamber has resolved to ensure that Nigerians, irrespective of their
ethnicity or religion, can live peacefully wherever they choose.

He said the committee is part of the house’s efforts to
provide “concrete” solutions to the violent attacks by “fringe members of the
society that have led to the misrepresentation of our country, and the
distortion of the narrative of violence, which is fueled by greed, corruption
and sheer avarice, rather than by any religious agenda”.

Abbas’ comments come in the wake of threats by US President
Donald Trump over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

‘POROUS BORDERS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT’

Abbas said the nation’s porous borders pose an existential
and economic threat to Nigeria.

“As members of the national assembly, we have a
constitutional mandate to ensure that agencies charged with safeguarding our
borders do their jobs properly, especially now that the porous borders
constitute both an economic and existential threat, eroding public confidence
in the capacity of the state to protect its citizens and its territorial
integrity,” Abbas said.

“In some ways, your borders define you as a nation. It shows
what kind of people you allow into the country, how you protect citizens from
harm, how you handle trade and commerce, how you welcome visitors.”

He noted that the goal of the committee is to identify
vulnerabilities, operational shortcomings and compromised border officials
complicit in the porosity of the nation’s borders.

“You must review how monies allocated to relevant agencies
to protect our borders are spent, how extant international agreements and
protocols may have complicated the situation, and suggest policy or legislative
changes,” he told the committee.

“The task of securing our borders is a multi-dimensional and
multi-agency responsibility. It demands synergy, transparency, and patriotism
from all institutions of government involved.

“Border security cannot be achieved in isolation; it
requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach — one that
harmonises the efforts of the military, paramilitary, intelligence, and law
enforcement agencies; promotes intelligence sharing; and ensures that
communities at the borders are active partners in safeguarding our nation.”

Abbas said the legislature is committed to strengthening
Nigeria’s border governance through effective legislation, rigorous oversight,
and adequate budgetary support.

The presiding officer of the green chamber noted that the
parliament is determined to ensure that all appropriated funds meant for border
security are utilised judiciously and that the principles of accountability,
transparency, and efficiency are upheld.

He added that the committee’s findings and recommendations
will guide the house in initiating legislative reforms and policy interventions
to modernise border security frameworks.

Abbas said the frameworks may include reviewing existing
laws, such as the Immigration Act and the Customs and Excise Management Act, as
well as related statutes, to reflect emerging global best practices and
security realities.

Isa Anka, chairman of the ad-hoc committee on border
security, harped on collective responsibility to safeguard Nigeria’s
sovereignty and promote national prosperity.

He said Nigeria’s borders face growing threats from illegal
cross-border activities such as arms smuggling, human trafficking, and drug
trafficking.

The lawmaker highlighted several factors undermining
adequate border security, including inadequate resources, outdated surveillance
equipment, rugged terrains, numerous unmonitored entry points, and negative
behaviours among some border officials.

He said despite government spending exceeding nine trillion
naira on security, the results have not matched the investment.

Anka added that the committee would develop actionable
strategies and recommendations to curb border-related threats.