The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Lagos State University (LASU) have joined forces to host the 2026 Annual Conference of the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE), with stakeholders examining ways to strengthen border governance, security and regional integration across Africa.
The conference, holding in Lagos from August 24 to 28, is themed “The Connected Borderlands, Socio-Cultural Integration, and the Centrality of Policy, Research, and Security.”
The five-day event brings together researchers, policymakers, security agencies and other stakeholders to examine the relationship between research, policy, technology and security in addressing the challenges confronting African borderlands.
Representing the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Kareem Olakoju, said effective border governance remained critical to Nigeria’s national security and migration management framework.
Olakoju, who declared the conference open, also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among institutions and stakeholders to tackle security, migration, movement and development challenges in Africa’s border communities.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the NIS Service Public Relations Officer, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, on Wednesday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, pcc, fsmn, highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to modernise its border management system.
Nandap recalled that Nigeria pioneered Africa’s electronic passport in 2007 and has since introduced enhanced e-Passports, contactless biometric passport services and Automated Border Control systems.
According to her, modern border management must go beyond territorial control, as borders also serve as important spaces for social, cultural and economic interaction among communities.
She identified intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, surveillance, command and control systems, capacity development and research as key components of the NIS strategy for achieving secure and resilient borders.
The Comptroller-General maintained that these measures would help strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to manage emerging border security and migration challenges.
The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, said the university was committed to generating research capable of addressing the realities of African borderlands.
She described borderlands as spaces where identity, mobility, culture and economic activities intersect, stressing that sustainable border governance could only be achieved through stronger links between academic research, policy and practical implementation.
Representing Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule Akibu, said the state was proud to host the continental gathering.
He said the Lagos State Government would continue to support initiatives that promote research, regional cooperation and practical responses to migration and border-related challenges.
Also contributing, Chairman of the ABORNE Chiefs, Prof. Paul Nugent, called for evidence-based approaches to border governance and regional cooperation.
A distinguished border scholar, Prof. Anthony I. Asiwaju, in his keynote address titled “20 Years After CIUDAD JUAREZ: ABORNE Ship Berths in Lagos,” traced developments in African border studies and highlighted the significance of bringing the ABORNE platform to Lagos.
The conference is expected to focus on critical issues including migration, smart borders, digital identity, regional integration, public policy and cross-border security.
The organisers said the forum would further strengthen collaboration among academics, policymakers, security institutions and other stakeholders towards building safer, better-connected and more resilient borderlands across Africa.