The Senate Committee on State and Local Government Affairs has raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure and basic amenities in Nigeria’s border communities, warning that the situation is pushing residents to seek essential services in neighbouring countries.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Binos Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South), made the remarks while presenting the 2025 budget estimates of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) and the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Yaroe said the absence of schools, potable water, electricity and other social infrastructure has made life difficult for residents in border areas, with some reportedly pledging allegiance to neighbouring countries where they can access basic services.
“Our communities at the borders sometimes cross into neighbouring countries to get education and even water because we do not provide these facilities for them,” he said, stressing the need for adequate funding for the BCDA.
He disclosed that the Senate had approved a special allocation of N50 billion for the agency in the 2025 budget through the service-wide vote, but lamented that the funds had yet to be released, limiting the agency’s ability to execute projects.
The lawmaker also highlighted unresolved boundary disputes between states, attributing the lingering issues to insufficient funding for demarcation. He cited the dispute between Bauchi and Gombe states, intensified by the discovery of oil in contested areas.
According to him, the lack of clearly demarcated boundaries has fueled tensions, with both states laying claim to oil deposits in the disputed territory.
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), represented by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), acknowledged the funding challenges and underscored the need to strengthen agencies responsible for boundary management and border development.
He noted that poor living conditions in border communities, particularly in Borno State which shares a boundary with Cameroon, project a negative image of Nigeria and require urgent attention.
