Federal Government pushes for stronger regional collaboration to address conflicts
Federal Government pushes for stronger regional collaboration to address conflicts
The Federal Government has advocated for enhanced regional cooperation to transform Africa’s international borders from conflict zones into avenues for peace, economic growth, and regional integration.
This call was made during the 2025 African Border Day celebration held on Monday in Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address, Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, emphasized the importance of redefining the continent’s border management approach, noting that “good fences make good neighbours.”
“We need to intensify efforts towards effective border governance to transform our borders into bridges of unity, peace and prosperity. This can be achieved collectively through the synergy of actions,” Adaji said
This year’s celebration theme, “Building Border Community Resilience and Economic Development through Cross-Border Cooperation,” aligned with the African Union’s overarching focus on justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
Adaji stressed, “The colonial borders which were previously seen more as barriers of separation and zones of confrontation, occasioned by disputes and conflicts, are now increasingly been turned to bridges of cooperation and integration between nations.
“This is indeed a welcome and encouraging development. In addition to the effective efforts to demarcate and delimit all our boundaries with our neighbours to prevent conflict and disputes, the commission champions the facilitation of equitable utilisation of transboundary resources.
Our activities of cross-border cooperation with our proximate neighbours are always inclusive of our border communities.”
Nigeria, he noted, had already ratified the African Union’s Niamey Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, a framework designed to promote development and peace across shared borders.
He urged other AU member states to follow suit so the convention could become fully operational.
Adaji highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to redefine its border relationships, pointing to ongoing work in boundary demarcation, dispute prevention, and the inclusive involvement of border communities.
“We engage and work in close collaboration with the border communities, the local border authorities and traditional institutions.
“They are key in building community resilience, social cohesion, and in helping with securing our territorial borders as well as enhancing the prospects for economic development of the country.
“It is a fact that Nigeria’s security and economic prosperity are directly interconnected with those of our proximate neighbors,” the DG noted
He added that the National Boundary Commission (NBC) has conducted several cross-border cooperation workshops with neighbouring countries to build trust and ease tensions.
He proposed that future African Border Day celebrations be used as platforms to promote joint community projects and cross-border initiatives.
He urged all stakeholders—governments, agencies, and civil society—to adopt a more integrated and proactive approach to managing borders.
“Our future African Border Day commemorations should create opportunities for border communities to participate in collaborative programmes and activities that bring mutual benefits,” he said.
“It also serves as a reminder to governments of the significant challenges along international boundaries and the urgent need for appropriate interventions to address them.”
Established by the African Union in 2010, African Border Day is observed annually to highlight the importance of borders in advancing peace and development across the continent.
