Nigeria has deposited its instrument of ratification for the African Union (AU) Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Convention otherwise known as the Niamey Convention has an underlying strong commitment by Member States towards the promotion of Cross-Border Cooperation for sustainable development of the African Continent.
According to a press release by the Head Information unit Efe Ovuakporie, the Deposition was made recently by the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji.
The Convention is aimed at ushering in a regime of peaceful resolution of border disputes between Member States and is also intended to promote peace and stability through the prevention of conflicts, the integration of the continent, and the deepening of unity among Member States.
It equally provides an opportunity to share intelligence among Member States.
The Director-General Adamu Adaji recalled that “Nigeria played a pivotal role in the conceptualization of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) and was very strategic to the process that produced the Convention during the Conference of African Ministers in charge of Borders on 29th May 2012 in Niamey, Niger Republic.”
Adaji said that “the coming into force of the Convention would no doubt pave the way for Cross-Border Cooperation at the local, sub-regional, and regional levels adding that it will equally ensure effective and integrated border management to promote growth, socio-economic and political integration of the continent.”
He urged all other Member States that are yet to ratify and deposit the Convention to expedite actions and deposit theirs.
With this deposition, Nigeria has thus become the 9th country to have ratified and deposited the Niamey Convention at the African Union Commission Headquarters.
Aside from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana have already deposited their instruments of ratification of the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation at the African Union Commission.
On his part, Head of the Nigerian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Aminu Nasiru lauded the commitment of Nigeria in promoting Cross-Border Cooperation and strengthening peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness across territorial borders
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission who received the Nigerian delegates commended the Nigerian government for its continued leadership position and determination in the promotion of peace and security in the African Continent.
He noted that Nigeria’s deposition would serve as a motivation to fast track other countries to take the necessary steps and deposit theirs.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
