Nigeria Bolsters Leadership in West African Border Security Initiative

Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership role in regional border governance as the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, joined top officials from across West Africa at a high-level meeting in Abidjan focused on improving border management and security.

In a statement issued yesterday, the NBC said the four-day meeting was held under the Platform for the Exchange and Coordination of Border Area Management (PECOBOM). It brought together heads of national boundary commissions from member states alongside key international partners, including the African Union Commission, German International Cooperation, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.

Speaking at the opening session, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Integration, Adama Dosso, underscored the complexities surrounding African borders and called for stronger regional collaboration to tackle emerging security challenges.

Discussions at the meeting centred on major policy frameworks, including a Regional Cooperation Charter on Border Governance and an Administrative Procedures Manual aimed at standardising cross-border operations.

One of the key outcomes was the adoption of a Three-Year Regional Action Plan designed to strengthen peace, improve security, and promote cooperation among border communities within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Nigeria played a pivotal role in shaping the action plan, aligning its contributions with national priorities on border security, governance, and community resilience.

During a panel session, Adaji highlighted Nigeria’s over 40 years of experience in cross-border cooperation, earning praise from participants and further reinforcing the country’s leadership in the sector.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen ties with regional and international partners working to promote stability and sustainable development in West Africa’s border regions.