FG plans surveillance planes, scanners for borders

To curb the increasing spate of violent cross-border attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents, the Federal Government has intensified moves to strengthen the nation’s borders in the North.

 

The government is concluding plans to purchase three surveillance aircraft for aerial patrol of the nation’s porous borders and high-tech scanners for the screening of goods.

 

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Boko, said the moves to procure the surveillance aircraft was part of strategies to check terrorism and insecurity posed by the influx of illegal immigrants and members of the Boko Haram sect.

 

The minister explained that he toured a surveillance aircraft facility in Prague, Czech Republic, which he visited recently, adding that when deployed in the Nigerian border control posts, the combination of plazas, surveillance aircraft and patrol vehicles would greatly reduce illegal immigration and activities at the borders.

 

He said, “In my recent visit to Czech Republic, we inspected the surveillance aeroplane facility in Prague and proposals have been sent to the relevant agency of government for the procurement of at least three of such surveillance aeroplanes and when we get the nod, we will be able to procure them.

 

“So, a combination of our plazas, border patrol vehicles and the surveillance technology will reduce the incidents of unwarranted entry into the country of persons and goods.”