Nigeria, Seven ECOWAS Countries Move to Strengthen Border Cooperation

Seven West African nations—Nigeria, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone—have agreed to bolster border security, advance boundary demarcation, and enhance cross-border cooperation. This pact was finalized at the Third Meeting of Heads of National Boundary Commissions, hosted in Banjul, The Gambia, from October 6 to 8, 2026, as reported by the National Boundary Commission (NBC). Nigerian Director General Adamu Adaji led the Nigerian delegation alongside representatives from other member states.

The gathering, organized under the ECOWAS institutional framework established in 2024, assessed advancements from the previous meeting held in Cotonou, Benin, in August 2025. Delegates emphasized the necessity of robust political backing, enhanced technical collaboration, and consistent dialogue among neighboring states to expedite boundary delimitation, demarcation, and reaffirmation.

They also underscored the significance of bilateral agreements delineating the aims, phases, and technical prerequisites of boundary operations, alongside advocating for compatible equipment, seasoned technical personnel, and efficient communication channels to tackle operational hurdles and avert disputes.

Additionally, the meeting identified five bilateral partnerships for coordinated activities: The Gambia and Senegal; Benin and Nigeria; Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana; Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; and Liberia and Sierra Leone. These partnerships are set to encompass land and maritime boundary operations, security, cross-border initiatives, economic development, and regional integration. Nigeria and Benin's framework, spanning 2026 to 2029, aims to foster sustained collaboration on shared boundary priorities.

The participants highlighted the importance of integrating border security with local development, commerce, and the free movement of people, while promoting greater involvement of local authorities and border communities in consultation and decision-making. They noted that community engagement could forestall misunderstandings, aid dispute resolution, and preserve social, cultural, and economic ties between communities split by international borders.

The meeting also proposed examining the establishment of a cross-border cooperation fund and joint funding requests from neighboring countries, contingent on applicable financial regulations.

Concerning continental cooperation, the meeting reviewed progress towards the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, known as the Niamey Convention. The Gambia's recent ratification brought the tally of ratifying African countries to 14, one shy of the 15 necessary for the convention to enter into force. Delegates stressed the need to fortify cooperation to counter security threats, forestall crises, and maintain the social, cultural, and economic bonds among communities residing along international boundaries.

They called for increased participation of local authorities and border communities in consultation and decision-making, asserting that community involvement aids in averting misunderstandings, expediting dispute resolution, and fostering harmonious coexistence.

Other recommendations included improving coordination among national and regional boundary institutions, operationalizing local cross-border cooperation initiatives, mobilizing enduring domestic financing, and bolstering technical collaboration. Participants also called for refined monitoring of projects via evidence-based assessments, verification of security conditions prior to monitoring missions, and clearer delineations of institutional responsibilities.

The NBC affirmed that the meeting underscored the significance of regional collaboration in addressing boundary challenges, promoting peaceful coexistence, security, and economic development. Nigeria's participation offered an avenue to deepen engagement with neighboring countries and regional bodies on matters impacting border communities and national security.