National Boundary Commission calls for regional cooperation on African borders

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has called for enhanced regional cooperation to address escalating security and socio-economic challenges across Africa’s borderlands. Speaking at the 2026 International Conference of the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) in Lagos, NBC Director-General Adamu Adaji highlighted a dangerous convergence of threats, including terrorism, banditry, arms trafficking, smuggling, and irregular migration.

Adaji emphasized that effective border governance must extend beyond physical infrastructure and traditional security measures. He argued that management strategies should be supported by rigorous research and evidence-based policies to balance national sovereignty with the need for legitimate mobility, trade, and regional integration. The commission stressed that because these challenges often transcend national boundaries, unilateral responses are increasingly ineffective, necessitating collaboration between governments, researchers, border communities, and development partners.