West African leaders canvass tech solutions for cross-border threats

West African governments have underscored the need for regional cooperation and smart technological solutions in addressing rising border security threats with the hope that these efforts will strengthen security and support economic growth through enhanced trade facilitation.

Regional leaders, security experts and policymakers expressed concern over the myriad challenges facing border security in West Africa, including the smuggling of arms and ammunition, human trafficking, illegal immigration, banditry, terrorism, drug trafficking, and inter-agency rivalry.

Other issues highlighted were the illegal arms trade, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, money laundering, and the trafficking of endangered species.

Speaking at the West Africa Border Security Week, held in Lagos with the theme, “Collaboration and Information Sharing: Key to Effective Border Security,” they called for solutions to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate transborder trade, and combat transnational threats, ultimately fostering economic growth across the region.

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, emphasised the critical role of border security in driving national economic development and ensuring regional stability.

Adeniyi, who was represented by the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Babatunde Olomu, underscored Lagos’s importance as a commercial hub and strategic border state, with its two seaports and a key land border with Benin Republic significantly contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said the state’s GDP is projected to reach $355 billion by 2025, bolstered by robust trade activities.

Adeniyi noted that border security is rapidly evolving, gaining increasing relevance to transborder trade and migration, while combating crime and trafficking.

He highlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s role in managing both approved and unapproved entry points to safeguard national integrity.

Adeniyi explained that the NCS’s ‘Smart Border’ initiative aimed to automate customs processes, enhance national security, and streamline trade by deploying technologies such as drones, advanced scanners, and surveillance systems to monitor border activities efficiently.

According to him, these advancements will enable faster passage of goods and passengers while bolstering security through tech-enabled traveler profiling.

In a presentation, titled: “Border Security Challenges in West Africa and Their Impact on Customs,” the Commissioner of Customs at Ghana Revenue Authority, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo, stressed the complexity of border security challenges in the region.

He pointed out that porous borders, weak governance, and inadequate infrastructure have fostered illicit activities, including smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism, resulting in significant revenue losses for governments and destabilising markets.

Ayorrogo further explained that drug trafficking and the smuggling of arms contribute to violence, insecurity, and corruption, particularly in border regions.

He said to combat these issues, Ghana Customs adopted innovative strategies, including technology integration, regional collaboration, and capacity building.

The Head of Border Management and Security at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Austria, Borut Eržen, called for the urgent integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation into border management strategies.

In his presentation, “What Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation Bring into Global Border Management and Security: Strategies for Enhanced Security,” Eržen outlined how AI can revolutionise border operations.

He noted that AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data allowed it to detect anomalies and identify potential security threats more effectively than manual methods.

Eržen said these technologies are already enhancing surveillance systems, such as facial recognition, improving the accuracy and speed of border checks.

He emphasised that by embracing digital tools, border agencies can improve operational efficiency, streamline processes, and respond more effectively to security threats.