Border Governance, Migration Securitisation, and Security Challenges in Nigeria.

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Security Studies
• Migration Studies

Background:

• Nigerian politicians link foreigners to national security challenges.
• The Nigerian government implemented a 2019 land border closure, securitizing immigration.
• This policy aimed to mitigate perceived security threats within Nigeria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of securitizing border governance and migration on Nigeria's national security.
• To examine the political motivations behind the securitization of immigration policies.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of border securitization in addressing security challenges.

Main Methods:

• Utilized securitization theory as a theoretical framework.
• Employed qualitative research methods.
• Data collection included focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and desk reviews of literature.

Main Results:

• The securitization of migration and strict border governance primarily benefit the political elite.
• These policies were enacted despite the elite's failure to resolve underlying security issues.
• Border securitization has not effectively mitigated Nigeria's security challenges.

Conclusions:

• The Nigerian government should de-securitize foreigners' immigration.
• Addressing the domestic and external factors driving insecurity is crucial.
• A shift from securitized border policies to addressing root causes is recommended.