Abuja: The National Boundary Commission (NBC) says it has made significant progress in resolving the Nigeria-Benin international boundary dispute. The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this on Sunday in Abuja, while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s administration after two years in office.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adaji mentioned that the commission had reactivated intervention on the boundary, which had previously been stalled by the Benin Republic since 2012. He noted that efforts have been successful in bringing the Benin team back to the discussion table for a swift resolution of the dispute.
Adaji explained that the current focus is on resolving the disputed areas, specifically the southern sector known as the Ajara River sector and the northern sector called the Ilo-Borogu sector. A joint committee has been established to revisit these areas, gather more documents, and involve experts to interpret the findings. The disagreement primarily arises from different interpretations of the boundary descriptions in these sectors.
In the Ilo-Borogu sector, which encompasses the states of Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi, the issue involves the use of legal instruments, particularly the treaty of 1906 and its later description in 1960. Adaji indicated that both documents would be studied critically to determine which is more beneficial for Nigeria, emphasizing that Nigeria’s interests remain a priority in their operations and activities.
Regarding the Ajara River, the dispute lies in the disagreement over which channel of the river to use. The Benin Republic and Nigeria both claim different channels. Adaji stated that they intend to examine the documents thoroughly and, if necessary, explore colonial administration archives to determine the correct document defining the boundary.
Addressing challenges, Adaji pointed out that the political will of some governments has been lacking, which has been discouraging. He expressed disappointment over instances where agreements and resolutions have been reached but are not enforced due to the lack of political commitment from the concerned governments.