Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have renewed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of outstanding boundary issues, with both countries seeking stronger cross-border cooperation to improve security and development in border communities.
The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surveyor Adamu A. Adaji, stated this on Wednesday while delivering his welcome address at the opening of the meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on the Nigeria-Benin International Boundary in Lagos.
The meeting, which runs from October 28 to 30, 2026, is aimed at reviewing outstanding boundary issues, considering technical recommendations and strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
In a statement on Thursady, Adaji said the meeting was an important step towards strengthening friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence between Nigeria and Benin, which share approximately 770 kilometres of land boundary traversing six Nigerian states.
He noted that communities on both sides of the boundary maintained longstanding social, cultural and economic relationships, stressing the need to consider their interests in the demarcation process.
‘The management and resolution of boundary issues must be guided by applicable legal instruments, available evidence and technical procedures, while also taking into account the legitimate interests of border communities,’ he said.
The NBC director-general called for adequate sensitisation and engagement with affected communities as both countries work towards completing the boundary demarcation process.
He said the current meeting built on deliberations at previous meetings held in Abuja in 2022 and Cotonou in 2024.
Adaji also highlighted recommendations from a meeting of the Joint Technical Team held in Kétou, Benin Republic, from June 2 to 8, 2026, following field completion exercises conducted by both countries along the Illo-Borgu boundary.
He stressed that completing the demarcation process must go hand in hand with sustained cooperation among government institutions and communities living along the shared boundary.
The director-general called for the effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Local Cross-Border Cooperation, following undertakings signed by chairmen of border local governments in Nigeria and their counterparts in communes in Benin Republic.
He said translating the agreement into practical action through regular consultations, joint action plans and community-based initiatives would strengthen border security, promote cultural integration, facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and enhance socioeconomic development.
Adaji also commended the government of Benin for its continued commitment to bilateral boundary mechanisms and acknowledged the support of the German government, through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), for promoting peaceful boundary management and cross-border cooperation.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working with its Beninese counterpart to resolve outstanding issues and advance the demarcation process, urging both delegations to agree on practical, time-bound measures that would benefit the two countries and their border communities.
In his remarks, the Director-General of Benin’s Agency for Integrated Management of Border Spaces and head of the country’s delegation, Adam Youssoufou, thanked the Nigerian government and people for their hospitality.
Youssoufou also commended GIZ for supporting efforts to resolve boundary issues and facilitate cross-border cooperation between the two countries.
He said unclear boundary demarcation had created challenges for security, economic development and cooperation along international borders.
The Beninese delegation leader urged both countries to work together to ensure the final demarcation of the boundary, expressing confidence that the meeting would produce positive outcomes and strengthen their shared commitment.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, represented by the Acting Director of the West Africa Division, Mrs Temidayo Balogun, said the objective went beyond defining a geographical boundary.
‘The objective before us, is not merely the delineation of a geographical line, but the consolidation of a peaceful, predictable and mutually beneficial relationship between two neighboring states,’ she said.
She added that the success of the process should be measured not only by technical progress but also by the confidence it inspired, the cooperation it facilitated and the benefits it delivered to citizens of both countries.