BOUNDARY COMMISSION ORGANISES ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES ON SECURITY AND INTEGRATION 31-01-24
By Sadiq Aminu The National Boundary Commission has stressed the need for sustained constructive engagement among border communities to promote security and economic prosperity.
Director General of the Commission, Mr. Adamu Adaji made the call at a one-day workshop for the creation of Nigeria’s platform for local border authorities along Nigeria-Chad international boundary in collaboration with Borno state government.
Africa 247 Correspondent Sadiq Aminu reports that the workshop has as its theme “transforming borders from barriers of separation to bridges of cooperation and integration.”
Nigeria has a total of four thousand, five hundred kilometer stretch of land boundaries.
Relatedly, Borno state share boundaries with three countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger republics occupying about nine hundred kilometer stretch which is almost one-fifth of Nigeria’s land borders, spanning across nine local government areas.
The state has in the last fourteen years witnessed trans-border security challenges which has affected human and socio-economic activities along the international borders.
In an effort to address these concerns, the National Boundary Commission and Borno state government organised a one-day workshop for local border authorities and traditional rulers along the Nigeria-Chad boundary to address rising insecurity and promote economic cooperation and integration.
Director General National Boundary Commission, Mr. Adamu Adaji emphasized the importance of cross border cooperation at the local, sub-regional and regional levels.
He said the Federal government has placed a great importance on the roles border local governments and traditional rulers play in the attainment of peace and stability between Nigeria and Chad.
“This workshop will have come at a better time than now owing to the rising challenges of insecurity along our border with Chad. The challenges have affected our age-old cultural and socio-economic cooperation and has indeed slowed down the process of integration across the borders of African continent ” Adaji said.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum represented by his Deputy Alhaji Umar Kadafur stressed the need for effective border management for sustainable development.
He also noted that the workshop will strengthen ties between Nigeria and Chad republic.
“Through open and constructive dialogue, we can identify common challenges, develop initiative solutions and implement effective strategies that will enhance efficiency of our local borders” Zulum remarked.
Borno state Deputy Governor who is also the chairman state boundary committee represented by the Commissioner Intergovernmental affairs and Special Duties Tukur Ibrahim expressed confidence that the workshop would contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework for border security.
Representatives of Executive Secretary Border Communities Development Agency Sadiq Abubakar and Comptroller-General Nigeria Immigration Service Mr. Salihu Abdullahi expressed readiness to partner with other stakeholders to enhance welfare and security at the border communities.