Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for stronger collaborations, among universities, security agencies, regional institutions and development partners to strengthen border security, migration management and regional integration.
Tunji-Ojo made the call at the opening ceremony of the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) 2026 conference on Monday in Lagos.
The minister was represented by Dr Kareem Olajoku, a Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Policy.
The four-day conference was with the theme: “Connected Borderlands, Socio-Cultural Integration, and the Centrality of Policy, Research, and Security”.
He posited that the country must increasingly adopt evidence-based approaches, to border management while ensuring that research remains responsive to practical realities.
The conference brought together scholars, policymakers, practitioners and development partners to examine issues surrounding Africa’s security, integration and development.
The partnership, is particularly relevant as Nigeria continues to modernise its approach to migration and border management, through improvements in biometric identity systems, passport administration, automated border control and technology enabling border security.
He buttressed that the developments reflect the country ‘s determination to build a border management system that protects national security while facilitating legitimate travel and regional mobility.
He commended Lagos University (LASU) and ABORNE for co-hosting the conference, describing the partnership as an example of how academic research and practical experience, when brought together could address contemporary security challenges.
According to him, the collaboration between academia and practitioners is particularly important, as Nigeria continues to modernise approaches to migration and border management.
He highlighted ongoing improvements in biometric identity systems, passport administration, automated border control and technology-enabled border security, as efforts to drive modernisation.
He noted that the developments demonstrate Nigeria’s determination to build a border management system capable of protecting national security while facilitating legitimate travel and regional mobility.
Tunji-Ojo further stressed the strategic importance of Lagos as the host location for the conference, describing the state as a major gateway for the movement of people and goods through its land connections, seaports and international airports.
He said Lagos provided an appropriate setting for discussions on the relationship between security, mobility, trade, community interaction and regional integration.
The minister called for greater attention to border communities, noting that they are often the first to experience the effects of insecurity and irregular migration.
He, however, said such communities should not be viewed merely as populations requiring protection, but as important partners capable of contributing to early warning, conflict prevention and effective border management.
“Building a resilient borderline therefore requires us to see border communities not merely as populations to be secured but as partners in security, peace and development.” he said.
Tunji-Ojo equally stressed that research should help governments anticipate emerging challenges rather than merely explain past developments.
He described ABORNE 2026, as more than an academic conference, saying it offered an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between knowledge and action, communities and institutions, as well as national security and regional cooperation.
According to him, the conference provides Nigeria with an important platform to contribute to the development of secure, integrated and resilient borders across West Africa and the wider African continent.
The minister urged participants to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on developing practical, collaborative and sustainable solutions.
He also expressed hope that the partnerships established during the conference would continue beyond the event and that knowledge generated through the gathering would contribute to policymaking and practice across Africa.
On her part, the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello said that for the university, this gathering was much more than the hosting of an international academic conference.
Olatunji-Bello said that it was an affirmation of the university’s commitment to producing knowledge that responds to the country’s realities and continent and its development.
She noted that Africa needed a new generation of scholars and professionals who understand that borders are not mere communities.
Accorsing to her, they are also communities of people, livelihoods, identity, security, development and human mobility.
“The University must, therefore, do more than observe these realities. It’s more the help to understand them, interrogate them and contribute to shaping policies and practises that govern them,” she said.
