In a bold move to address Nigeria's persistent security crisis, the Sujimoto Group has put forward a comprehensive national proposal. The construction, real estate, and finance conglomerate is advocating for a massive N20 trillion fortified border and agro-development initiative. The company asserts this dual-strategy plan could dramatically reduce terrorism, banditry, and cross-border crime nationwide.
The High Cost of Nigeria's Insecurity Crisis
Sujimoto's proposal highlights the staggering human and economic toll of the nation's security challenges. Citing a 2024 report by Global Rights, the firm noted that at least 24,816 Nigerians lost their lives between 2019 and 2024 due to insurgency, banditry, terrorism, and communal violence. Millions more have been displaced from their homes.
The financial burden is equally crushing. Despite Nigeria spending nearly N3 trillion on defence and security in 2023 alone, the situation has continued to deteriorate. The company estimates that insecurity has cost the economy over ₦7.17 trillion in lost productivity, abandoned farmlands, and disrupted livelihoods. Sujimoto argues the core issue is not a lack of resources but a flawed strategic approach.
"Security treated only as expenditure will never end fear. Security treated as infrastructure becomes an investment that multiplies value," the firm stated, stressing the critical need to integrate national defence with tangible economic development.
Blueprint for a Fortified and Productive Frontier
The proposed plan has two interconnected pillars: hardened border security and large-scale agricultural development. The security component envisions the construction of an extensive fortified frontier along Nigeria's most porous borders, initially focusing on regions adjoining Niger and Cameroon, covering roughly 2,900 kilometres.
The blueprint includes:
- Modern concrete barriers and access roads along key corridors.
- Surveillance towers positioned at intervals of approximately 50 kilometres.
- High-resolution cameras and drone launch pads for aerial monitoring.
- Rapid-response security bases to enable quick intervention.
This vision aligns with recent advocacy by Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for a technology-driven border security system to curb infiltration and arms trafficking.
Transforming Border Zones into Economic Corridors
Beyond the physical barriers, the initiative's second pillar aims to address the root causes of instability. The plan integrates agro-industrial zones behind the fortified borders. These zones are designed to include:
- Large-scale farm estates and agro-processing hubs.
- Supporting housing, clinics, and market infrastructure.
- Renewable energy projects to power these communities.
Dubbed the Sujimoto Farm Estate Vision, the project could develop between 20,000 and one million hectares of farmland across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The goal is to transform vulnerable border areas into productive agricultural and industrial corridors, creating jobs and stabilising communities.
"Insecurity is not only a military problem; it is an economic and developmental crisis. Where youth lack jobs, dignity and opportunity, violence thrives. Development creates resilience, while security creates time. Together, they create stability," Sujimoto explained.
A Call for Partnership and National Investment
The company, pointing to its track record in high-end construction like the LucreziaBySujimoto project in Lagos, maintains it has the technical capacity to execute such large-scale infrastructure. The proposal draws parallels with fortified border systems used by countries like Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel.
Sujimoto has called on the Federal Government to consider the plan as a public-private partnership, framing it as a long-term national investment rather than a conventional security expenditure. "If Nigeria builds boldly and links security with development, insecurity can become a closed chapter," the firm said. It concluded that fortified borders, productive farmlands, and empowered youth could reposition Nigeria as a model for turning crisis into opportunity.
