Contextual Implications Of Porous Border, Unmanned And Ungoverned Space

In a layman’s perspective, a border is a boundary separating one country from another, whether it is defined or not, that is a general view and context, but beyond a general definition, and for individuals that have travelled, it is a demarcated area between two or more sovereign countries agreed upon by the authorities of the countries concerned in exercising the authority and independence of such countries.

A border whether defined by demarcation or imaginary by geographical mappings is a point that shows the limit or area covered by a country which should not be crossed or trespassed by a non-indigent or citizen without the permission or authorization of the official’s designated by whatever means to man or guard the borderline to avoid unauthorised access, entry or crossing.

Therefore, a border can be defined for a general understanding as a line separating two countries, administrative divisions or areas e.g Nigeria and Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad, Nigeria and Benin Republics (for local understanding).

On international dimension United States (US) and Mexico, Panama Western Border with Costa Rica, Israel and Gaza to mention but a few.

As a national reference document on national border management strategy, a scholarly work was done under the leadership of Muhammad Babandede , the 16th Comptroller General of Immigration Service, titled, “NIS National Border Management Strategy 2019-2023” published in May 2019.

The publication was for the Federal Government of Nigeria by the cooperation of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Migration Agency funded by the European Union(EU)’ credit to NIS lead and focal person DCG Funke Cecilia Adeuyi, who was ACG incharge of Border Management (Marine) then, and Mr. Charles Harns Lead IOM Technical Consultant and his team.

When talking about border of a country, we must note that some have three(3)borders in their country namely: Land Border, Air Border and Sea Border like Nigeria, while some depending on location and topography of the country bordering it, may be a desert land like you have in Niger and Chad Republics with the drying up attributed to climate change of the Lake Chad, bordering Nigeria and Chad, Cameroon has both land and body of water in the form of Rivers not sea, Niger Republic is desert land border, Benin Republic has both Land and Sea with Nigeria, all countries share Air Border with any that has the right of entry with respect to Visa authorization or Visa abolition depending on the kind of diplomatic and Visa agreement existing between the two, it is expedient to note that all sovereign countries of the world have air border which they control which no one not authorised crosses or should trespass either by air travel across or entry into without agreement or authorisation from designated Airports or Aerodrome.

Therefore, the simple definition of a border by the NIS National Border Management Strategy 2019-2023 “is a line separating land territory or maritime zones of two sovereign states or subparts of a sovereign state.”

Border Control from a professional point of view is a state’s regulation of the entry and departure of persons to and from its territory, in exercise of its sovereignty, whether this is done or conducted at the physical border, virtual border or outside of the territory in an embassy or consulate. For proper understanding, Embassies or Consulates of countries are extensions of National Borders in other countries or host countries(that is why you cannot arrest anyone who is within an embassy or consulate without due clearance and assistance of officials designated to avoid diplomatic and security breach).

Border Management on the other is also a means of control using facilitation of authorised flows of persons, including those on business, tourists, migrants, refugees, and other regular migrants across a border and the detection and prevention of irregular migrants from entry especially non- nationals into a given country, nationals cannot be stopped from entry into their country unless there is an order or legal authorisation to apprehend, deny entry or arrest.

What does a *Porous border* mean? It is a border that has no physical presence of border management authorities at any point in time, making it easily accessible for entry by anyone.

*Ungoverned Space*, on the other hand, is not the same as a porous border, but a porous border can become an Ungoverned space, when occupied or taken over by Non-State Actors that are dissidents, clandestine, insurgents, militants, rebels fighting a government or a state.

*Unmanned Space* is not the same as a porous border nor Ungoverned Space, because unmanned space is a space that is not covered by physical presence of border officials but can be controlled or managed by the deployment of technology or other means of control not necessarily human presence physically due to factors of expanse land, inaccessible terrain, war or conflict that may deprive officials of their physical presence, unmanned space can be manned if discovered by the national authorities by deploying border security and management control facilities of any known specification or means physically or virtually.

Therefore no country of the world will ever allow a “porous border”,

Nigeria’s border is not porous, it only has some ungoverned spaces and unmanned spaces around its borderlines for the following reasons:

The North East has being the epicenter of insurgents operation and terrorist attacks, it has since 2010 being in contest between the government forces and Boko Haram and a war zone cannot be manned by border security officials but by the Military, who are engaged in the war.

The area temporarily occupied by the terrorists can be said to be between Ungoverned or unmanned but not porous, because no law abiding or regular traveller passes through such area or point, only cross border criminals, terrorists, bandits can, because it is a war zone, a territory they temporarily occupy until they are dislodged by the government forces.
Same with some areas in the North West temporarily occupied by bandit and terrorists, it is an ungoverned or unmanned space but not porous, because no law-abiding citizen or regular traveller will pass through such areas or points.

This article aims to clarify the notion that Nigeria’s border is porous, . No, it is to some extent in war zones ungoverned or unmanned spaces but not porous, because no human activity or mobility of law abiding citizens around the borders in the trouble area. A war zone cannot be porous because of the exchange of fire power, attacks and counter-attacks, and it is a danger zone.

No crossing area for regular and law abiding citizens, no economic or human activity is expected to take place naturally because it is a war zone and may be infested by terrorists, who are enemies of the state and ready to abduct, kill any person in view.

The operation around the war zone is simple battle and war of occupation by both government forces or the non state actors.

If an individual or group is intercepted, apprehended or arrested, in between crossfire, such person(s) must be interrogated and debriefed to know the circumstances behind their presence and mission.

By Implication, at wartime, government forces operating in any border area adjoining a war zone are the border guards to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the state border and not allow passage, entry or incursion of any sort.