FG Urges Stronger Regional Ties to Transform Borders, Curb Conflicts

The Federal Government has called for intensified regional collaboration among African nations to transform international borders from sources of conflict into conduits for peace, economic development, and integration. This appeal was made by the Director General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, during the 2025 African Border Day celebration held in Abuja on Monday, July 1, 2025.

Adaji emphasized the critical need for African countries to rethink their approach to border management, advocating for “stronger regional collaboration to turn Africa’s international borders from flashpoints of conflict into platforms for peace, economic development, and integration.” He underscored that achieving this requires collective action and synergy, asserting that “good fences would make good neighbours” if managed effectively.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Building Border Community Resilience and Economic Development through Cross-Border Cooperation,” aligns with the African Union’s broader agenda. Adaji highlighted Nigeria’s efforts, including the ratification of the AU’s Niamey Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, a framework designed to foster development and peace across shared borders. He urged other AU member states to follow suit to ensure the convention’s full operationalization.

“The colonial borders which were previously seen more as barriers of separation and zones of confrontation, occasioned by disputes and conflicts, are now increasingly being turned to bridges of cooperation and integration between nations,” Adaji noted, calling this a welcome development. He stressed that Nigeria’s security and economic prosperity are inextricably linked to those of its immediate neighbours, making cross-border cooperation essential.

Despite the federal government’s push for integration, concerns about border security remain prominent. Speaking at the same event, Deputy Governors from Nigeria’s border states voiced their frustrations over persistent insecurity and porous borders. The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Idris Gobir, who chairs the Nigeria-Niger International Border Platform, critically noted, “As long as we have insecurity, we should not even talk about collaboration. Let us achieve security first.” He lamented that Nigeria’s borders have become easy entry points for criminal elements, including bandits, and called for more concrete security measures, including surveillance technology.

Similarly, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed concern over the lack of visible federal commitment to strengthening marine and coastal border security.

The NBC reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating equitable utilization of transboundary resources and engaging closely with border communities, local authorities, and traditional institutions to build resilience and enhance security. The call for stronger regional ties aims to transform these frontiers into genuine points of synergy, benefiting both Nigeria and its neighbours in the pursuit of lasting peace and economic growth.