The Federal Government has intensified calls for enhanced cross-border cooperation among ECOWAS member states to combat transnational crime, terrorism, and other security challenges threatening regional stability.
The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, made the call during the annual stakeholders’ meeting on ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation held in Abuja.
Adaji, who was represented by Dr Farouk Tarfa, Head of Cross-Border Cooperation at the NBC, noted that Nigeria was the first country in the sub-region to establish the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) programme.
He emphasised the need for member states to strengthen collaboration to tackle terrorism, transnational crimes, and illegal movements. He added that deeper regional integration would boost joint security operations, resource sharing, and socio-economic development in border communities.
Adaji explained that the CBC programme leverages the shared socio-cultural identities of border communities to promote joint development, trans-boundary resource utilisation, and integrated health management to combat cross-border diseases.
“This programme also provides opportunities for joint security operations capable of guaranteeing peace, security and stability within border areas, thereby facilitating growth and development across the region,” he said.
He recalled that ECOWAS Heads of State adopted the concept of Cross-Border Cooperation in January 2006 as part of the sub-regional integration process, which later led to the establishment of the ECOWAS CBC Programme.
