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Nigeria, Benin Republic Sign Landmark Local-Level MoU on Cross-Border Cooperation
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Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation at the grassroots level.
The agreement which was signed on 18th August 2025 represents a milestone in bilateral relations, deepening collaboration between local government authorities and traditional institutions across the shared frontier.
The MoU was signed under the framework of the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Initiatives, and the Nigeria–Benin Cross-Border Cooperation Agreement. It formalizes cooperation between Chairmen of Nigeria’s Border Local Government Areas and Mayors of Communes in Benin Republic, alongside traditional rulers on both sides of the border.
The primary objective of the agreement is to enhance the resilience of border communities against the rising threats of cross-border crimes. It also seeks to revive historic socio-cultural linkages disrupted by colonial-era demarcations, foster peaceful coexistence, and promote good neighbourliness among border populations.
The MoU will further provide a platform to accelerate the ongoing delimitation and demarcation of the Nigeria–Benin boundary. By empowering local leaders and traditional institutions to engage actively in the process, the agreement is expected to ease tensions, resolve disputes amicably, and promote stability along the frontier.
Beyond peace and security, the MoU highlights the economic and developmental role of border communities. Joint initiatives in trade, agriculture, infrastructure development, and cultural exchanges are envisaged as practical avenues to improve livelihoods and drive regional integration, in line with ECOWAS objectives.
Nigeria’s delegation to the signing ceremony was led by the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surv. Adamu Adaji, and included senior officials from the NBC, the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, and the Chairmen of Border Local Government Areas from the six affected states of Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos. The Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou also provided diplomatic support.
In his remarks, Surv. Adaji described the MoU as “a grassroots-driven instrument that aligns with continental and regional frameworks while providing practical solutions to the everyday realities of border dwellers.” He emphasized Nigeria’s determination to ensure that the agreement moves beyond paper commitments into concrete action that directly benefits communities.
Chairman of Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara State, Hon. Idris Mohammed, who represented Nigeria’s border local government leaders, hailed the agreement as a timely response to longstanding community concerns. “Our people have lived with insecurity, disrupted trade, and cultural isolation for too long,” he said. “This MoU is a message of hope that their challenges are now at the centre of bilateral cooperation.”
From the Beninese side, the Mayor of Malanville Commune, Mr. Joseph Ahoyo, reaffirmed the importance of involving local actors in cross-border governance. “National agreements are important, but without grassroots participation, implementation often stalls,” he observed. “This MoU is unique because it empowers communes and traditional authorities to play an active role in shaping the future of our shared border.”
Traditional rulers were also acknowledged as key partners in the cooperation framework. Their historic roles as custodians of kinship ties and mediators in local disputes provide an additional layer of legitimacy and continuity for the implementation of the agreement.
Officials on both sides emphasized that the MoU will be followed by practical steps, including the establishment of Joint Dialogue Platforms and Pilot Programmes in security cooperation, economic exchanges, and cultural revival. These initiatives are expected to provide early benefits while reinforcing the long-term objectives of peace, development, and integration.
The signing of this MoU signals a renewed chapter in Nigeria–Benin relations. By bridging national policies with local realities, the agreement strengthens bilateral cooperation while serving as a model of community-driven cross-border governance for West Africa.
Surv. Adaji concluded with a call to sustained commitment “What we have signed today is not just a document. It is a pledge to our people that we will work together, across borders, to build safer, stronger, and more prosperous communities.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the remaining days of the Continuous Voter Registration, warning that the registration window will close on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
In a public notice issued on its X handle on Saturday, the electoral body reminded prospective voters that they could complete their registration online from start to finish through its dedicated CVR portal or visit designated registration centres nationwide for physical assistance.
“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission said.
INEC encouraged Nigerians who require assistance to visit any of its state offices, local government area offices, or designated registration centres to complete the process in person.
The commission also stated that all registration centres would remain open daily, including weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until the exercise ends.
“You can complete your voter registration online from start to finish via http://cvr.inecnigeria.org. If you need assistance, visit any INEC State Office, LGA Office, or designated registration centre to complete your registration in person,” the commission added.
The CVR exercise is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. It enables eligible Nigerians and those seeking to update their voter information to be included in the national register of voters.
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has questioned why no government official has visited Boko Haram terrorists and bandits to negotiate an end to their violence, the way past leaders engaged Niger Delta militants.
He made the comparison in a Facebook post on Saturday, recalling how former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo both visited militants in the creeks to broker peace.
Gumi noted that both leaders, at different times, went into the creeks to meet militants and returned with programmes designed to end militancy in the region.
“The former President Jonathan visited Delta militants in the creeks, so also the former Vice President Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants,” he wrote.
The cleric then asked who would extend similar engagement to Boko Haram and bandits terrorising parts of northern Nigeria without facing public backlash.
“Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” he asked.
Gumi has for years positioned himself as an advocate for dialogue with armed groups in the North-West and North-East, repeatedly visiting bandit camps in Zamfara and other states to hear their grievances.
He has consistently argued that negotiation, rather than military force, worked to end militancy in the Niger Delta and should be replicated in the North.
The cleric’s interventions have drawn both support and criticism. While some Nigerians accuse him of legitimising armed groups responsible for kidnapping, killings and cattle rustling, others credit his engagements with securing the release of kidnap victims.
The retired military officer has repeatedly denied backing terrorism, insisting his advocacy is aimed solely at ending the bloodshed through dialogue and rehabilitation.
The Niger Delta amnesty programme, launched in 2009 under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and sustained by Jonathan, saw thousands of militants disarmed in exchange for training, stipends and reintegration support. The programme significantly reduced attacks on oil infrastructure in the region.
Jonathan first waded into the Niger Delta crisis in 2007 as vice-president, entering the creeks without an armed detail to meet ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as _Tompolo_, in Warri, Delta State.
He later said the meeting laid the groundwork for the amnesty programme granted to militants, which remains in place today.
Osinbajo similarly toured Niger Delta communities as acting president in 2017, engaging militants and traditional leaders directly.
He justified the outreach by arguing that those in the creeks were citizens with genuine grievances, not merely security threats.
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