Nigeria-Cameroon border demarcation nears completion after 24 years; pillars going up in Adamawa sector
Nigeria and Cameroon are finalizing physical demarcation of their 2,100-kilometre international boundary, with over 260 boundary pillars being placed in the Adamawa sector. National Boundary Commission DG Adamu Adaji told NAN that completion is expected in about two to three months—likely by end of 2026—following the 2002 ICJ judgment that awarded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
This resolves Africa's longest-standing land boundary dispute, directly affecting border communities. Adaji cited examples like Koja (predominantly Nigerian community kept in Nigeria through boundary adjustments) and Turu (conceded to Cameroon where its nationals are predominant), showing how settlements were preserved to avoid displacing populations. The focus now shifts to managing affected communities' needs and promoting sustainable development.
Nigeria's longest international land boundary (longer than borders with Benin at 770km or Niger at 1,500km) will soon have visible markers. The NBC has established the first ECOWAS platform for cross-border cooperation, with state-level local committees to combat smuggling, regulate migration, and document legitimate community movements along the border. Maritime boundaries with Cameroon are resolved, while negotiations continue with Equatorial Guinea (3 nautical miles), Ghana (8 nautical miles), and Benin (treaty-defined).
Will this completed demarcation finally reduce border tensions and unlock cooperative development for Nigeria's frontier communities, or will new challenges emerge in managing shared resources and populations?