Heads of national boundary commissions from across West Africa converged in Abidjan from April 7 to 10, 2026, to strengthen cooperation on the management of border areas across the region.
The meeting, held under the Platform for the Exchange and Coordination of Border Area Management in West Africa (PECOBOM), brought together key regional and international stakeholders to address emerging border governance challenges.
Participants included the African Union Commission, GIZ supporting the African Union Border Programme, ECOWAS member states and AES, as well as the International Organisation for Migration and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.
In a statement, the Head of Information, Press and Public Relations of the National Boundary Commission, Chinwe Udouwem, said the Director-General of the commission, Adamu Adaji, actively participated in discussions on critical regional boundary issues.
Declaring the meeting open, Adama Dosso highlighted the historical complexities of African borders and stressed the importance of PECOBOM in addressing evolving security challenges.
During the technical sessions, participants deliberated on key frameworks, including a Regional Cooperation Charter on Border Governance and an Administrative Procedures Manual.
A three-year regional action plan was also adopted to align border governance initiatives with regional priorities on peace, security, and enhanced cross-border cooperation.
Nigeria’s contributions to the formulation of the regional action plan were guided by its national priorities in border management, security, and community resilience.
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 the field.
Nigeria’s experience was widely acknowledged and commended by participants.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Nigeria to deepen engagement with regional stakeholders and partner institutions working towards improved cross-border governance and stability in West Africa.
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