Nigeria has deposited its instrument of ratification for the African Union (AU) Convention on cross-border cooperation.
The director-general of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Mr. Adamu Adaji, made this known in a statement signed by the commission’s head of information, Mrs. Efe Ovuakporie, in Abuja yesterday.
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Adaji, who said that the instrument was deposited at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, noted that Nigeria had earlier signed the convention on January 29, 2017.
“With this deposition, Nigeria has become the 9th country to have ratified and deposited the Niamey Convention at the African Union Commission Headquarters.
“Aside Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Togo have already deposited their instruments of ratification at the AU Headquarters.
He also said the convention, otherwise known as the Niamey Convention, has a strong commitment by member states towards the promotion of cross-border cooperation for sustainable development of the African continent.
According to him, the convention is aimed at ushering in a regime of peaceful resolution of border disputes between member states.
“It is also intended to promote peace and stability through the prevention of conflicts, the integration of the continent, and the deepening of unity amongst member states.
“It equally provides an opportunity to share intelligence amongst member states.”
The DG recalled that Nigeria played a pivotal role in the conceptualization of the African Union Border Programme.
He added that the country was equally strategic to the process that produced the convention during the conference of African ministers in charge of borders on May 29, 2012, in Niamey, Niger Republic.
He argued that the convention would no doubt pave the way for cross-border cooperation at the local, sub-regional, and regional levels.
He added that it would equally ensure effective and integrated border management to promote growth and socio-economic and political integration on the continent.
Adaji urged all other member states that were yet to ratify and deposit the convention to do so.
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