Nigeria and Benin strengthen border cooperation
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Nigeria and Benin want to link the settlement of border disputes with greater cooperation between communities along their approximately 770-kilometre land border. Adamu Adaji, director-general of Nigeria’s National Boundary Commission, presented this approach at a bilateral meeting held in Lagos from 28 to 30 October 2026, according to the commission.
Nigeria and Benin opened a meeting of their Joint Commission on the International Boundary in Lagos, scheduled for 28 to 30 October 2026. Adamu Adaji, director-general of Nigeria’s National Boundary Commission, called for demarcation to be combined with cross-border cooperation on security and development for communities, according to Leadership.
The two countries share about 770 kilometres of land border, which runs through six Nigerian states. Adaji said disputes should be resolved on the basis of legal texts, available evidence and technical procedures, while taking the interests of border communities into account. He also advocated regular consultations, joint action plans and local initiatives to implement the memorandum of understanding on local cross-border cooperation.
Adam Youssoufou, director-general of Benin’s Agency for Integrated Management of Border Areas, said the lack of clear demarcation complicated security, economic development and cooperation along the border. He welcomed the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for efforts to resolve disputes and foster cooperation between the two countries.
