By Joyce Remi Babayeju
Nigeria has reinforced its commitment to improved border governance and regional security by participating in the Regional Meeting of the Platform for the Exchange and Coordination of Border Area Management in West Africa (PECOBOM), held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from April 7 to 10, 2026.
The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surveyor Adamu A. Adaji, represented Nigeria at the high-level meeting, which convened heads of boundary commissions from across West Africa, alongside key international partners.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC), the German International Cooperation (GIZ), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), all working to strengthen cross-border governance in the region.
Declaring the meeting open, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Integration, Adama Dosso, underscored the historical complexities surrounding African borders and stressed the importance of coordinated regional efforts in tackling emerging security challenges.
Deliberations focused on critical frameworks, including a Regional Cooperation Charter on Border Governance and an Administrative Procedures Manual.
The meeting also adopted a Three-Year Regional Action Plan aimed at aligning border management strategies with priorities on peace, security, and cross-border cooperation.
However, Nigeria had contributed actively to the development of the action plan, drawing from its national priorities on border security and community resilience.
During a panel session on experience sharing and best practices, Adaji highlighted Nigeria’s over four decades of cross-border collaboration, earning commendation from participants.
The meeting further provided a platform for Nigeria to deepen engagement with regional stakeholders and development partners in advancing stability and effective border management across West Africa.
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