Abuja: The National Boundary Commission (NBC) is actively promoting peaceful coexistence among internal and international border communities. The NBC Director-General, Mr. Adamu Adaji, emphasized this initiative while evaluating the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adaji explained that the commission’s efforts align with its mandate to encourage affected communities to live peacefully and cooperate for socio-economic development. He highlighted that the NBC is raising awareness in these communities to foster cross-border cooperation for mutual benefit. The commission has also established a platform to facilitate engagement among border states and local government areas, aiming to enhance cooperation in security and intelligence gathering.
Adaji mentioned a recent program in Benin Republic, which evaluated the Nigeria-Benin border concerning the ethnic composition of both countries. He noted that many boundaries are artificial and often split homogenous communities. To address this, the NBC is working to bring together people from both sides of the border to leverage their shared social and cultural ties for improved cooperation.
Furthermore, the NBC is building relationships with Cameroon, where boundary lines divide a single religious community. A need assessment has been conducted to identify joint benefits for both sides. The commission aims to foster integration and confidence-building among local populations to enhance intelligence gathering, socio-cultural activities, and security.
Adaji refuted assumptions that cross-border cooperation fuels insecurity, asserting that such cooperation aids intelligence gathering when people see themselves as part of a unified community. He stressed that cooperation is not failing, but rather, the NBC is striving to bring communities together.
Challenges remain, particularly in viewing boundaries from traditional and ethnic perspectives. However, the NBC continues to educate border communities to perceive boundaries as administrative lines for convenience. Adaji acknowledged that unclear boundaries pose a security threat and assured that the NBC is committed to clearly defining and demarcating all resolved boundaries.