Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Nigeria Immigration Service in conjunction with Lagos State University, host the 2026 Annual Conference of the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) which runs from 24th -28th August 2026 in Lagos. The conference, themed “The Connected Borderlands, Socio-Cultural Integration, and the Centrality of Policy, Research, and Security,” highlights the importance of integrating research, policy, technology, and security to foster safer and more connected African borderlands. This was contained in a statement signed by DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja.
Delivering the address on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister, Dr Kareem Olakoju, reaffirmed the strategic significance of effective Border Governance for Nigeria’s security and migration framework. He also reinforced the need for enhanced institutional partnerships to address the complex challenges of security, movement, and development in Africa’s borderlands while declaring the event opened.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, KN Nandap, pcc, fsmn while delivering her welcome address at the opening ceremony reflected on Nigeria’s leadership in border modernization, from pioneering the continent’s first electronic passport in 2007 to rolling out enhanced e-Passports, contactless biometric passport services, and Automated Border Control. She noted that borders are not merely lines separating countries but dynamic spaces where people, communities, economies, and cultures connect. She reaffirmed that Nigeria’s strategy also prioritizes intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, surveillance and command and control capabilities, capacity building, and research as key to building safe, connected, and resilient borderlands.
The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola, in her remarks, emphasized on the University’s commitment to producing research that responds to Africa’s border realities. She highlighted the importance of viewing borderlands as living spaces of interaction, identity, mobility and exchange, stressing that effective border governance requires the integration of research, practice and policy.
The Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, ably represented by Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule Akibu, emphasized the importance of Lagos as host of the continental forum. He reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to supporting platforms that drive research, strengthen regional cooperation, and provide practical solutions to border and migration challenges in Africa.
In their respective contributions, Prof. Paul Nugent, Chairman of the ABORNE Chiefs, and Prof. Anthony I. Asiwaju, a distinguished border scholar, underscored the importance of linking research, policy, and practice in advancing understanding and governance of Africa’s borderlands. Prof. Nugent highlighted the need for evidence-based approaches to border governance and regional cooperation, while Prof. Asiwaju, in his keynote address titled “20 Years After CIUDAD JUAREZ: ABORNE Ship Berths in Lagos,” reflected on the evolution of African border studies and emphasised the significance of Hosting ABORNE to Lagos.
The four-day conference will focus on policy, migration, smart borders, digital identity, regional integration, and cross-border security, while reaffirming the Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to promoting secure, connected, and resilient Border Management.
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