Public policy and border management in Nigeria: implications of President Buhari’s 2019 policy on land borders closure

Abstract

Land borders closure policy is a border management policy which is used by countries to preserve their national integrity, protect their socio-political interests, and to enhance their economy and national development. This study accordingly examined public policy and border management in Nigeria with focus on the implications of Buhari’s 2019 policy of land borders closure. The study adopted the human needs theory as theoretical framework for the study. The study employed descriptive survey design and a sample size of 40 respondents purposively selected from Seme, Idiroko, and Mfun border areas using the purposive sampling technique. The study used both primary and secondary data while analyses were made using simple percentage and content analytical model. Based on the data analysis, the study found that the policy on land borders closure has neither improved border management nor reduced the rate of smuggling and insecurity in Nigeria. It equally established that the policy has not significantly improved the national development of the country. The policy did not only cause loss of jobs and shut down of businesses but negatively impacted on the indigenous manufacturing companies and also increased the price of food in the country. Based on the above findings, the study recommended among others that the Nigerian Government should draft a proper plan on how to improve border management in Nigeria and man the unregulated routes. This can be done by expanding and dispatching border security agents to those illegal routes. This would help to reduce smuggling, terrorists and criminal activities in the country. The study concluded that the policy on land borders closure posed negative impacts on both Nigeria and her neighboring countries.