The National Boundary Commission (NBC) Director-General, Alhaji Adamu Adaji, has declared the Zinder resolutions between Nigeria and Niger will enhance boundary stability, reinforce peace and security and stimulate socio-economic development across the borderlands.
Alhaji Adamu stated this during a three-day meeting of officials of both countries held from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10 in Zinder, Niger.
Nigeria and the Republic of Niger reached an agreement on boundary re-demarcation, security coordination and enhanced cross-border engagement during the meeting of senior officials of both countries.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the agreement was reached at the end of a high-level session of the Joint Standing Committee of Experts (JSC) in Zinder, Niger.
The senior officials include technical experts and field operatives under the Nigeria/Niger Joint Commission (NNJC), who reviewed progress on ongoing boundary re-demarcation and to adopt a new programme for the 2025/2026 cycle.
The NBC DG commended the experts for their diligence and expressed satisfaction with the quality of engagements.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful relations and deeper cooperation with Niger.
A statement by the NBC spokesperson, Mrs. Efe Ovuakporie, Abuja on Thursday, said the senior officials, technical experts and field operatives under the Nigeria/Niger Joint Commission (NNJC) reviewed progress on ongoing boundary re-demarcation and to adopt new programme for the 2025/2026 cycle.
According to her, the meeting adopted the technical report on boundary re-demarcation activities, undertaken since the last JSC session in Abuja in 2023, adding that “the meeting revealed that 60 intermediate pillars were constructed between main pillars 79–80 and 80–81 in the Kongolam axis of Katsina State.
“In the same period, 40 intermediate pillars were constructed between pillars 108–109 and 109–110.
“Additionally, 17 intermediate pillars were re-evaluated between pillars 125–126 along the Maigatari/Machina corridor.”
Ovuakporie said the JSC acknowledged that some critical activities remained outstanding due to funding and security constraints in the area, adding that of the activities include joint inspection missions in the Dosso/Katsina sector, re-evaluation of main pillars 1–4 in Gaya and the construction of 45 intermediate pillars in Kangiwa, Kebbi State.
She said the two countries agreed to prioritise these tasks in the new 2026 Work Plan, just as the delegation also reviewed the need to strengthen cross-border cooperation in line with the African Union’s Niamey Convention and the Integrated Border Governance Strategy.
“The delegates also reviewed existing cooperation corridors, including Kano/Katsina/Maradi, Kano/Jigawa/Katsina/Zinder, Kebbi/Sokoto/Tahoua/Dosso, Zamfara/Katsina/Jigawa/Maradi/Zinder and Yobe/Borno/Diffa, with a view to adopting global best practices.
“They assessed the persistent challenges in these borderlands, which include weak infrastructure, security gaps, socio-economic disruptions and unregulated spaces.”
She said after extensive brainstorming, the experts adopted new proposals, which include reviving cultural and socio-economic ties between border communities, enhancing joint-use of infrastructure in border corridors.
Other proposals, she said, included strengthening local governance collaboration between local government areas and communes, and expanding security coordination across shared border zones.
She added that the delegates recommended local cross-border workshops, joint socio-cultural and sporting activities, improved borderland infrastructure and enhanced security presence.
According to him, Also, Mr Boubacar Amadou, the Head of the Niger delegation and Permanent Secretary of the Niger National Boundary Commission, described the deliberations as “sincere, productive and forward-looking.”
He emphasised the need for greater financial support to accelerate outstanding demarcation tasks.
