Abstract:

Cross-border crime constitutes a multidimensional threat to Nigeria’s national security, undermining territorial integrity, economic stability, and human welfare. This study examines the scope, drivers, and consequences of cross-border criminal activities, including arms trafficking, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and transnational terrorism, through a dual theoretical lens that integrates Securitization Theory and the Critical Human Security Framework. Drawing on qualitative content analysis of policy documents, institutional reports, and recent scholarly literature (2015-2025), the research reveals that Nigeria’s border insecurity is sustained by porous borders, institutional rivalry, systemic corruption, and socio-economic marginalization. Findings indicate that classic state responses, characterized by militarization, border closures, and securitized discourse, have yielded limited results because they neglect the human dimensions of security, including livelihoods, justice, community trust, and gender inclusion. The paper argues for a paradigm shift toward an integrated, people-centered model of border governance that harmonizes enforcement with community engagement, regional cooperation, and socio-economic empowerment. It concludes that sustainable national security in Nigeria depends not only on defending borders but also on securing the lives and dignity of the very citizens who inhabit them.