The Kebbi Government, the Dossou Region in the Niger Republic, and the Alibori department of the Benin Republic have formerly signed validation documents on border cooperation.
Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi, Governor of Dossou, Albachir Aboubacar, and Prefect of Alibori, Bello Samah signed the documents in Birnin Kebbi, following four days of deliberations among experts from the three states on the collaboration.
Reading the drafted documents on the collaboration, Dr. Farouq Musa, from the National Boundary Commission (NBC), stated that the regions agreed to commit to political support, local authorities co-op station, especially on the mobility of livestock in their borders’ areas.
He said the MoU is to further strengthen the economy and security of the regions.
Earlier, Bagudu, while addressing the experts and delegates of the three regions said:” the three communities have been linked together for decades, enjoying very cordial relationships in agriculture, commerce, and inter-marriages.
” But there is no organized institutionalized framework on the cross borders and security issues to further cement the aged relationship between the three borders’ communities, particularly, on agro-pastoralism area.
“Our traditional rulers have relationships across borders and that shows that we are the same people,” he said.
Bagudu informed the participants that his administration since its inception in 2015, had been assisting pastoralists, especially in the modernization of livestock production of diary and cheese, yogurt production, and provision of health facilities, and schools at the pastoralists' settlements, among others.
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He commended the organizers of the program and the international donors for making the signing of the validation documents possible, saying that it would further develop the KADO areas.
In his remark, Aboubacar, who spoke through an interpreter, commended the organizers, the ECOWAS, World Bank, and other international donors for making the collaboration come to a reality.
He stressed that the development would gear up development in the regions.
On his part, Ahmed commended ECOWAS and experts from the three regions for working assiduously in making their dream a reality.
In his remarks, Mr. Alain Traore, the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS, who also moderated the signing of the validation documents, commended the three regions for their initiatives, the World Bank, Swiss Bank, and European Unions.
He said that the ECOWAS would continue to support the regions on developmental issues.
Earlier, the Director-General of NBC, Alhaji Adamu Adaji, noted that the people of Africa must not allow artificial boundaries to create barriers among them, adding that they must continue to work together for socio- development of their people.
The signing of the MoU for the validation of the document is the sequel to the high-level dialogue on pastoralism held in September 2021, as part of the activities lined up to round off the West Africa Integrated and Secure Pastoralism Project, Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project of Africa Union Border Programme.
