Civil society organizations to host Stakeholder Summit on Border Security in Abuja

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria will converge in Abuja for a national stakeholders’ summit on cross-border crimes, terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling and human trafficking.

The summit, scheduled for May 28 at the Nigerian Army Resource Center in Abuja, will focus on “Border Fencing and Inter-Agency Collaboration: The Panacea to Enhance Border Security and Sustainable Development.”

In a statement signed by the Director General, National Council for Civil Society Organisations, NACCSO; Comrade Emmanuel Johnny, First Vice President, West African Action Network on Small Arms, WAANSA; Comrade Martin Igwe, Chairman of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, CSGGG, Chief Ogagwu Dominic and Comrade Opanchi Jacob, Civil Society Organizations have commended the military for the recent airstrike at Jilli Market against insurgents who had turned the area into a conclave for their anti-social operations, calling for continued support to win the war against terrorism.

The organizations also announced a historic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defense to successfully host the summit.

“Cross-border crimes, including terrorism, arms trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s security and economic development.

“These illicit activities exploit our porous borders, undermining national stability and prosperity,” the statement noted.

Civil society organizations believe that effective border fencing, combined with strong interagency collaboration, could significantly reduce these crimes and promote sustainable development.

“The summit will bring together stakeholders to share best practices, identify gaps in current measures and recommend solutions to address cross-border crimes. Keynote speeches, debates and interactive sessions will focus on border security, interagency collaboration and sustainable development.

“We congratulate the Minister of Defence, General CG Musa (rtd) for his proactive leadership and commitment to ensuring peace and unity in Nigeria. We also endorse a vote of confidence on the military and other security agencies, expressing our full support for their efforts to protect our nation.

“We take note of the recent airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force in Jilli Market, Borno State, against a known Boko Haram hub.

will feature keynote speakers, including a keynote address from a well-known border security expert; roundtables on interagency collaboration and sustainable development, and interactive sessions on border security management and community engagement.

The organizations appealed to Nigerians to take part in the summit.