By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cross-border cooperation and improving border governance in West Africa as the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu A. Adaji, participated 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 7 to 10 April 2026.
In an official signed statement, Head of Information, Press and Public Relations, Chinwe O. Udouwem, disclosed that the high-level meeting brought together heads of national boundary commissions from across the West African region as well as representatives of key international organisations working on border governance and migration issues.
The meeting featured participation from the African Union Commission, the German International Cooperation (GIZ) in support of the African Union Border Programme, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.
PECOBOM serves as a strategic platform for collaboration among countries in the management and development of border areas across the West African sub-region, bringing together participants from member states of the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States.
Declaring the meeting open, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Integration, Adama Dosso, highlighted the historical complexities surrounding African borders and emphasised the importance of PECOBOM in addressing emerging security and governance challenges across the region.
During the technical sessions, participants deliberated on several strategic frameworks aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, including the Regional Cooperation Charter on Border Governance and an Administrative Procedures Manual designed to harmonise approaches to cross-border management.
The meeting also adopted a Three-Year Regional Action Plan intended to align border governance initiatives with broader regional priorities on peace, security, and enhanced cross-border cooperation among neighbouring states.
Nigeria’s contributions to the development of the action plan were guided by its national priorities in border management, security coordination and strengthening resilience among border communities.
Adaji also participated in a panel discussion on experience sharing and good practices in cross-border cooperation, where he highlighted Nigeria’s more than four decades of experience and leadership in fostering cross-border collaboration within the region. According to the statement, Nigeria’s contributions and institutional experience were widely acknowledged and commended by participants at the meeting.
The gathering further provided an opportunity for Nigeria to deepen engagement with regional stakeholders and international partner institutions working towards improved cross-border governance, stability and sustainable development across West Africa.
