Government will explore ideas on how relevant agencies can collaborate and coordinate effectively to deal with smuggling activities along the borders of Nigeria and its neighbouring countries.
This hint was given earlier today by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during a briefing he received from the National Boundary Commission.
Prof. Osinbajo indicated that the Commission, the Nigeria Customs and the Immigration authorities could work together to tackle the problem of smuggling, adding that it would be useful “identifying actual points where smuggling is taking place.”
While appreciating the work and the detailed presentation of the Commission, the VP, who is the Chairman of the Commission’s Board, expressed the desire to see more collaboration among relevant government agencies and called for a plan in that direction.
Earlier in his briefing, Dr. M. B. Ahmad said the National Boundary Commission functions include intervening and dealing with any boundary disputes that may arise between Nigeria and any of her neighbours with a view to settling it. The Commission also intervenes, determines and deals with boundary dispute that may arise among states, local government areas or communities in the federation with a view to settling them.
He said the Commission is in-charge of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC); Nigeria-Benin Joint Commission (NBJC); Nigeria-Benin Joint Technical Committee on Delimitation; Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC); Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the ECOWAS/Cross River Initiatives (CBI)
He noted that the Commission has intervened in many internal boundary disputes in the country including states like Jigawa/Kano, Kaduna/Kano, Kaduna/Katsina, Kaduna/Plateau in the North and other areas in country.
The Director General cited the challenges faced by the Commission to include funding, straddling settlements, re-establishment of destroyed/missing boundary pillars as well as demographic movements with the emergence of new settlements, among others.
LAOLU AKANDE
Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity
In the Office of the Vice President
