The African Union (AU) National Border Development policy; was to critically provide infrastructural facilities in the 21 states border communities to prevent conflicts and migrations. The border communities’ development policy, according to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) was adopted in 2007 by the council of ministers of the AU. NBC’s Director General, Adamu Adaji disclosed this Tuesday in Maiduguri at a three-day interactive session with Stakeholders of border communities in Borno state.
According to him, the AU committee wanted to make the border areas peaceful in the 10 border councils with Chad, Niger and Cameroon. The border areas councils include Marte, Monguno, Kala/Balge, Bama, Gwoza, Mobbar, Dikwa, Kukawa, Guzamala and Abadam. “The areas are to stimulate economic growth and development with the three neighbouring countries,” he said. Adaji, who was represented by Aliyu Hamza Danagalan; said that the Commission’s activities in the border areas was to enhance security in the 21 Border States.
He noted that Borno is being accorded priority as its shares borders with three countries for infrastructural facilities and other projects. He lamented that the state is the most ravaged by the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency. According to him, the Commission has taken steps in adopting the border development policy of the AU. He said the policy adoption; was a requirement for Nigeria to access financial resources earmarked by AU for the development programme. Governor Babagana Zulum, who was represented by his Deputy, Umar Kadafur; urged the Commission to ensure equitable siting of development projects in the 10 border councils areas.
He assured that the community border projects could reduce conflicts and migration of people to neighbouring countries. On the state of border infrastructural facilities, the Council Chairman of Gwoza, Prof. Ibrahim Bulama Bukar said: “Unfortunately, all the 10 councils lack social amenities for electricity, water supply, roads, healthcare services and security to protect our lives and property.” He said people from Kirawa, Ashigashiya, Agapalawa, Atagara, Ngoshe and Barawa travel to Kwaza and Kwalofata in Cameroon for medical treatments. According to him, the hospitals in the Cameroonian border areas are well equipped with drugs. “Their medical doctors and nurses are also committed to attain to patients from Nigeria,” noting that because of the commitments, the people from Gwoza trust and believe that health facilities and others in Cameroon are better than the ones in the council.
