FIC REPORT (LAGOS STATE) – Nigeria Immigration Service in conjunction with Lagos state University, host the 2026 Annual conference of the African Borderlands Research Network ( ABORNE) in Lagos.
The conference themed ” The connected Botherlands, socio- cultural integration, and centrality of policy, research and security” highlights the importance of integrating research, policy, technology and security to foster safer and more connected African borderlands.
Delivery the address on behalf of 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 immigration framework. He also reinforced the need for enhanced institutional partnerships to address the complex challenges of security, movement and development in Africa’s botherland’s while declaring the event open.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, K .N 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 2002 to rolling out enhanced; e- passports, contactless biometric passsport services and automated border control.
She noted that borders are not merely lines separeting countries but dynamics spaces where people, countries, economies and cultures connect.
She reaffirmed that Nigeria’s strategy also prioritise intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, survelliance, command, control capabilities, capacity building and research as key to building safe, connected and resillient borderlands.
The Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University , Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji- Bello, in her remarks, emphasised on the university’s commitment to prolong research that responds to Africa’s border realities. She highlighted the importance of viewing botherlands 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 Sanwo-olu, represented by commissioner of Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule Akaibu, emphasised the importance of Lagos as host of the continental forum. He re-affirmed the state govenrment’s commitment to supporting platforms that drives research, strenghten regional co-operation, and provide practical solutions to border and migration challenges in Africa.
In their respective contributions, prof. Paul Negent, chairman of the ABORNE and Prof. Anthony .l. Asiwaju, a distinguish border scholar, underscored the importance of linking research, policy and practice in advancing understanding and governance of Africa’s borderlands. Prof. Negent highlighted the need for evidence based approaches to border governance and regional cooperation.
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 siginificance of hosting ABORNE in Lagos.
Juliet Chinyere Ujowundu
Asst. Dir . Information & PR
25 / 08 / 2026
