NBC backs border reforms to strengthen economic security

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has reaffirmed its support for the ongoing review of Nigeria’s Border Management System, a move aimed at bolstering the nation's border governance framework. Director-General Adamu Adaji stated the commission's commitment to assisting a committee tasked with this review, which was established by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa.

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Effective border governance remains important to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, promoting peaceful inter-state relations and addressing emerging security threats such as terrorism, arms trafficking, irregular migration, transnational crimes and climate-induced displacement.

Adaji highlighted the critical importance of effective border governance in safeguarding Nigeria's territorial integrity, promoting peaceful inter-state relations, and combating emerging security threats. These threats include terrorism, arms trafficking, irregular migration, transnational crimes, and the impacts of climate-induced displacement. He stressed that strengthening border management is essential in the current security landscape.

The commission advocates for a comprehensive and collaborative strategy. This approach requires the involvement of security agencies, border communities, sub-national governments, traditional institutions, and regional partners. Adaji also underscored the necessity of investing in border infrastructure, advanced technology, intelligence sharing, and robust cross-border cooperation to enhance security and management.

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The DG stressed the need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving security agencies, border communities, sub-national governments, traditional institutions and regional partners.

Furthermore, Adaji pointed to the success of the Local Cross-Border Cooperation Platforms established by the NBC along Nigeria’s international borders. These platforms are instrumental in fostering trust, social cohesion, and collective responses to shared challenges among border communities. The committee's leader, Brigadier General M.B. Shehu, solicited the NBC's cooperation in fulfilling the committee's mandate during a meeting at the commission's headquarters.

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He also highlighted the importance of investments in border infrastructure, technology, intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation.