The Federal Government said on Thursday it needed more than $244 million (about N38.06 billion) to instal electronic surveillance equipment across the country`s borders for adequate security.
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said this while addressing the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee in Abuja.
Moro said the estimate was made by a private Chinese firm.
The minister, who acknowledged that the country’s vast borders were porous, added that the ministry was doing everything possible to address the situation.
He said the installation of surveillance equipment was part of the ministry`s efforts to deploy appropriate modern technology and manpower for effective policing of the country`s border posts.
The minister added that the measure had become necessary because of the country’s increasing security challenges, particularly in some northern states.
He said that the United States Department of States, which offered to assist Nigeria as part of its international war against terror, had already picked some components of the facilities.
He said the project would be mounted by the US Department of States and the Chinese company under the public private partnership.
He said that when available, the 1,497 illegal routes into the country would be effectively policed.
Moro said: “We are making efforts to procure appropriate modern technology to be installed along our borders.
“We are collaborating with the US State Department and a private Chinese company for which we have initially received a cost of $244 million.
“When this is done, the temptation of illegal entry into Nigeria will be reduced.”
Moro said his ministry was collaborating with the Border Development Agency to construct Border Plaza at the 84 legal borders nationwide, to give the country befitting structures.
The minister expressed optimism that the structures would also promote commerce along border communities and reduce illegal activities along the borders.
Moro also said that 30 illegal guard companies had been discovered across the country, adding that their operators had been handed over to the police for investigation.
The minister debunked insinuations of employment racketeering in the ministry, adding that some unscrupulous elements opened a Website in the ministry`s name to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
He said: “One of them even used my name to open such Website.
“But, we have been able to arrest him somewhere in Asokoro, Abuja, when I asked one of his would-be victims to play along with him.”
Moro gave the assurance that the ministry would soon launch its employment Website to effectively address such situations.
He added that the ministry was in the process of harmonising the issuance of expatriate quota permits in line with extant rules.
He said it became necessary following serious infraction on expatriate quota and other forms of racketeering involving foreign companies.
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