ECOWAS Meeting: FG Pushes for Stronger Regional Action Against Border Crimes
Nigeria calls for deeper cross-border collaboration among West African nations to tackle terrorism, transnational crime and security threats.
The Federal Government has called on ECOWAS member states to strengthen cross-border cooperation to combat terrorism, transnational crime and security threats while promoting regional development and integration.
The Federal Government has renewed its call for stronger cooperation among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address transnational crime, terrorism and other cross-border challenges affecting regional peace and stability.
The appeal was made by the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, during the annual stakeholders’ meeting on ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation held in Abuja.
The regional gathering, organised by the Economic Community of West African States Commission, brought together delegates from member countries including Nigeria, Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Dr. Farouk Tarfa, Head of Cross Border Cooperation at the commission, Adaji stressed the importance of coordinated regional responses to combat terrorism, illegal migration and organised cross-border crimes.
He explained that stronger regional integration would improve intelligence sharing, support joint security operations and encourage better use of shared resources while advancing socio-economic development in border communities.
According to the commission, Nigeria became the first country in the sub-region to establish the ECOWAS Cross Border Cooperation programme because of its strategic role in addressing complex border challenges and promoting social cohesion.
Adaji stated that the programme is designed to strengthen collaboration among communities with shared cultural and social ties across national boundaries.
He added that the initiative supports joint development of transboundary resources, improves access to strategic services and encourages coordinated public health responses to tackle diseases that spread across borders.
He further noted that enhanced security collaboration would help guarantee peace, stability and long-term development across the region.
Adaji recalled that ECOWAS Heads of State adopted the cross-border cooperation framework in January 2006 as part of broader regional integration efforts, leading to the formal establishment of the programme by ministers responsible for border affairs.
