Nigeria, West African Nations Move To Strengthen Border Management

Nigeria and other West African countries have taken renewed steps to strengthen border management and enhance regional cooperation across the sub-region.

The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surveyor Adamu Adaji, joined other heads of boundary commissions at the regional meeting of the Platform for the Exchange and Coordination of Border Area Management (PECOBOM), held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the NBC’s Head of Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr Chinwe Udouwem.

Udouwem said the high-level meeting brought together key stakeholders in border governance, including representatives of the African Union Commission, German International Cooperation, the International Organisation for Migration, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.

She added that participants also included member states of the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

She explained that PECOBOM serves as a strategic platform for collaboration on border area management across West Africa, fostering coordination among countries to address shared challenges.

She said that, while declaring the meeting open, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Integration, Mr Adama Dosso, highlighted the historical complexities surrounding African borders and stressed the need for strengthened cooperation to tackle emerging security threats.

She said that during the technical sessions, participants reviewed key frameworks, including a Regional Cooperation Charter on Border Governance and an Administrative Procedures Manual aimed at improving coordination and operational efficiency.

She also noted that a major outcome of the meeting was the adoption of a Three-Year Regional Action Plan designed to align border governance efforts with regional priorities on peace, security, and cross-border cooperation.

“Nigeria played an active role in shaping the plan, with its contributions guided by national priorities on border security, governance, and community resilience,” she said.

She added that Surveyor Adaji also participated in a panel discussion on experience-sharing and best practices in cross-border cooperation, where he highlighted Nigeria’s over 4 decades of experience and leadership in the field. His presentation received commendation from participants.

The meeting further provided an avenue for Nigeria to strengthen engagement with regional and international partners working towards improved border governance and stability in West Africa.