Ismail Adebayo Birnin Kebbi
Three Governors of the cross border communities, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Albachir Aboubacar , Dosso in Niger republic and Bello Ahmed KY Samah, Alibori of Benin republic have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross border cooperation, pastoral, livestock, agriculture and infrastructural development in the border community areas of the three countries.
The MoU was signed in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday by the three governors of the cross border regions, Kebbi State, Dosso and Alibori in Niger and Benin republic respectively in the presence of the representatives of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and European Union (EU).
It is expected to facilitate economic, infrastructural development, cross border, pastoral, livestock and agriculture cooperation in the three border regions.
Speaking at the event, the Director General National Boundary Commission of Nigeria, Adamu Adaji said the validation of the cross border cooperation was for integration, secure pastoralism and livestock management in the tree border states of Kebbi, Alibori and Dosso.
He said"The support for the cooperation of the three border regions couldn't have come at a better time owing to the security challenges arising from conflict between herders and farmers across west Africa and the Sahel regions.
"Pastoral and agriculture is the means of livelihood and income of these African regions. The MoU will promote inter communal dialogue, agriculture, pastoralism, livestock management and cross border cooperation".
Governor Bagudu in his address said the two regions of Dosso and Alibori in Niger and Benin republic have historical ties with Kebbi State. "Kebbi borders Niger and Benin republics. The three cross border communities have been living together for many years. They intermarried, the people and their traditional rulers have transhuman and border relationship", he said.
He added that all the relevant stakeholders had held useful discussions that were validated for the development of the three border regions. "Kebbi has programmes that touches the lives of pastoralists. We provided normadic schools, light, water in their settlements. We also sponsored Hottingo Festival to attract pastoralists from other African regions", Bagudu said.
