The Federal Government has vowed to redouble its efforts in 2024 for quick resolution of all pending international boundary disputes and improve on trans-border relations.
This was made known by the Director-General of National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, in Abuja, yesterday, while during a chat with newsmen on the activities and plans of the commission for 2024.
Adaji explained that the commission plans to make all its zonal liaison offices active to handle activities in the zone for prompt action, as well as encourage states and local councils to establish a functional boundary committee.
He pointed out that the commission would engage in more fieldworks for physical investigations towards making the boundaries more visible on the ground, as well as engage more in sensitisation.
Adaji said, “With respect to the Nigeria-Benin international boundary, the commission, in liaison with its Beninois counterpart, resuscitated the long-stalemated work with investigations along the Adjara River and the Igbokofi/Towe sectors of the boundary corresponding to the Ogun State axis of Nigeria.
“Additionally, we organised a cross-border cooperation activity in the form of a joint cultural and sporting activity among the communities of Baruten Local Council of Nigeria and the corresponding regions of Niger and Benin.
“This is intended to downplay the weight of the border and create integration of the people, who are the same but only separated by the colonially imposed international boundary.
Commenting on the Nigeria-Cameroon International Court Justice decision, Adaji disclosed that 2,214 pillars had been emplaced at the boundary in a series of contracts awarded as lots.
On Nigeria and Niger, he said Nigeria is liaising with her Nigerien counterpart under the joint standing committee and carried out reconnaissance exercise to recover all the old pillars placed between 1906 and 1908.
“We negotiated and replaced all pillars that were missing and reconstructed those that have deteriorated. So far, 128 Main Pillars out of the 148 inherited pillars have been reconstructed along the axis. About 739 Intermediate Pillars have been constructed so far along the Nigeria-Niger boundary,” Adaji said.
