The Federal Government has established a platform for local Border Authorities as well as the Traditional Rulers towards the improvement of the trans-border relations between the relevant units of Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The integrated platform covers, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara states in 21 local government areas that share boundaries with other countries.
The Director General of National Boundaries Commission, Adamu Adaji, during a workshop for creating the platform, said the discussion was a follow up to the maiden workshop that established the National Consultative Forum for the promotion of security and economic prosperity of the border regions.
According to him, the federal government places great importance on the role of Border Local Government Authorities and Traditional rulers in the attainment of peaceful co-existence between Nigeria and her proximate neighbours.
“Their role is not only limited to the promotion of peaceful co-existence but also very relevant in facilitating cross border cooperation and regional integration.
“Promotion of African unity and integration is one of Nigeria’s cardinal principles and that was demonstrated with the recent ratification and deposition of the African Union Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention) on 5th October 2023.
“The Convention paves way for cross-border cooperation at local, sub-regional and regional levels.
“There is no doubt that effective and integrated border management is necessary to combat cross-border crime, terrorism, piracy, and other forms of crimes and will transform border areas into catalysts for growth. This can only be achieved successfully when a Local Border Platform is created.”
He added that the boundaries bequeathed to the African states by the colonial administration were arbitrary and the African leaders have agreed to accept these boundaries as inherited.
Adeji noted that boundaries in many cases bifurcated homogeneous African communities into two of more states explaining why the same people exist across many African borders.
“Ordinarily by the African traditions, we relate with our brothers informally even if they are in different countries. It is therefore a welcome development to establish cross-border cooperation as a formal way of cementing the bond that exists amongst the nations.
“Nigeria has about 4500km land border and about 850km stretch of maritime border and to police these lengths no doubt requires the support of our local border authorities and borderland communities who are the main gateways to our nations.
“This clearly explains the fact that the work of securing our territorial borders must be a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck,” he added.
In his remarks, the Sokoto State Deputy Governor and Chairman state boundary committee, Idris Dan-Chadi, said the workshop came at the right time considering the level of attack witnessed from bandits among border communities.
Dan-Chadi noted that the platform would also help to checkmate the activities of border communities to improve security and socioeconomic development of the areas.
He appealed to the government at all levels to give border communities a self of belonging to enable them to address many challenges facing the areas.
The Deputy Governor commended the organisers of the workshop which he said would provide an avenue for effective collaboration with all relevant Stateworkers to maintain peace and unity in the border states.
He appealed to the commission to develop a framework that would settle disputes at border region particularly the issue of Bachaka village in Gudu local government area of sokoto state.
Other Deputy Governors of Kebbi, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara states that spoke at the occasion commended the Commission for its commitment towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among border communities.
They pledged to give their maximum support in engaging various relevant stakeholders in their respective states to ensure effective dialogue and implementation of the policy among border communities.
For his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, commended the efforts of the organizers especially for coming up with this idea that would maintain peace in the region.
Sultan Abubakar who was represented by the District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Isah Muhammad Bawa, assured the commission of traditional institutions full support for the effective implementation of the policy for unity and peace in the areas.
The theme of the workshop is: “Transforming Borders from Barriers of Separation To Bridges of Cooperation and Integration.“
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