Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between local governments and traditional rulers along their shared borders.
The agreement, signed on August 18, 2025, builds on the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, ECOWAS initiatives, and the Nigeria–Benin Cross-Border Cooperation Agreement.
According to the National Boundary Commission (NBC), the MoU establishes a framework linking Nigeria’s border local government areas with Benin’s communes, alongside traditional leaders. It aims to address cross-border crime while reviving cultural and social ties disrupted by colonial-era boundaries.
NBC Director-General, Adamu Adaji, who led Nigeria’s delegation, said the agreement was “a grassroots-driven instrument” designed to deliver practical solutions to border communities. He stressed that the Federal Government was determined to move beyond paper commitments towards actions that directly benefit residents.
“This 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,” Adaji stated.
The MoU also advances efforts to delimit and demarcate the Nigeria–Benin boundary, giving traditional rulers and local leaders central roles in easing tensions and resolving disputes peacefully.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s border LGAs, Idris Mohammed, Chairman of Baruten LGA in Kwara State, said, “Our people have lived with insecurity, disrupted trade, and cultural isolation for too long. This MoU is a message of hope.”
From Benin, Joseph Ahoyo, Mayor of Malanville Commune, praised the agreement for empowering grassroots actors. “National agreements are important, but without local participation, implementation often stalls. This MoU gives communes and traditional authorities a real voice,” he noted.
The agreement also highlights economic opportunities, including joint initiatives in trade, agriculture, infrastructure, and cultural exchange, in line with ECOWAS goals of regional integration.
The Nigerian delegation included representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, senior NBC officials, and chairmen of six border states — Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos — with support from Nigeria’s Embassy in Cotonou.
Officials from both countries confirmed that implementation would begin immediately, with plans to launch joint dialogue platforms and pilot programmes in security cooperation, economic development, and cultural revival.