Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have been urged to leverage diplomacy, cultural ties and traditional institutions to resolve border conflicts, strengthen security and promote regional integration.
Permanent Secretary, Nigeria-Benin Republic Inter-Border Forum, Dr Bonny Abisogun Botuku, made the call at a training programme organised by the Edo-Delta Journalists Association on Wednesday at Ogolor, in the Port-Novo area of the Republic of Benin.
Botuku said both countries share historical, cultural and social ties that could be harnessed to prevent disputes, strengthen relationships and promote peaceful coexistence among border communities.
According to him, communities along the Nigeria-Benin border often regard themselves as one people despite the international boundary separating them.
He explained that colonial-era demarcations had divided communities with common ancestry, traditions, family relationships and economic interests, making it imperative for authorities to consider local realities when implementing border regulations.
While acknowledging the responsibility of both governments to protect their territories, Botuku cautioned against border management practices that unnecessarily harass residents and travellers who had fulfilled the necessary entry requirements.
He stressed that the free movement of people and goods remained essential to regional integration but must be balanced with legitimate security considerations.
“Free movement does not mean that we should not know who is coming into the country, what they are coming to do and how long they intend to stay,” he said.
The permanent secretary urged security personnel operating at border posts to treat travellers professionally and respect their human dignity once they had complied with immigration requirements.
He warned that excessive restrictions could disrupt cross-border trade, separate families and undermine the livelihoods of people whose economic activities depended on regular interactions across the border.
Botuku advocated stronger cooperation among security agencies, traditional rulers, local government officials and other stakeholders in Nigeria and Benin to address border-related challenges through dialogue and mutual understanding.
He described traditional institutions as important partners in conflict prevention, noting that traditional rulers possessed valuable knowledge of local customs, community relationships and historical grievances that could help resolve disputes without resorting to force.
He, therefore, urged both governments to engage traditional leaders regularly on issues relating to security, peaceful coexistence and regional integration.
Recalling his involvement in the initiative, Botuku said that after becoming a permanent secretary in 2012, he participated in engagements involving government authorities, traditional rulers and local government representatives from both countries through the inter-border forum.
According to him, the initiative was designed to promote dialogue, prevent conflicts and encourage local diplomacy rather than relying exclusively on higher authorities to resolve disputes.
He also called for a change in the perception of border communities, urging governments to see them as potential centres of economic growth rather than merely security challenges.
Botuku noted that cultural festivals, artistic exchanges and joint economic activities could strengthen relationships between the two countries, stimulate commerce and create more opportunities for residents of border communities.
He maintained that sustained dialogue, respect for shared cultural heritage and collaboration among relevant stakeholders would help Nigeria and Benin address security concerns while advancing peaceful coexistence and regional economic integration.
