An Appraisal of International Boundary and Border Theories and Administration: The Case of Nigeria-Niger Trans-Border
- September 6, 2021
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: IJRSI, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue VIII, August 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705
Williams A. Ahmed-Gamgum [PhD]
Consultancy Services Unit,
Taraba State Polytechnic Suntai, Jalingo Campus
P.O. Box 834, Jalingo Post Code: 660262
Abstract: The essence of having boundaries between communities, states and countries is to prevent land area / territorial jurisdiction disputes. This paper seeks to understand how boundaries emerged and how it succeeded or failed to resolve boundary disputes between nations particularly Nigeria-Niger trans-border. Data for this study was collected from secondary sources and was qualitatively analyzed. The study found that after the determination of the boundary between Nigeria and Niger, the challenges that emerged between the two countries were amicably resolved and consolidated through the use of boundary commissions and borderland development agencies among other security outfits that collaborated with Local and State Governments. This paper recommends that the Federal Government should step up the implementation of its border land development programme among other bilateral agreements to consolidate the cordial relations between the two countries.
Key Words: Boundaries, Borderland, straddled communities, Development policies
I.INTRODUCTION
A. Background
International Boundaries in the context of this paper is defined as a precise dejure and defacto line of demarcation (Fig 1) that excludes one nation from the other (Bobbo 2010:1). This definition opens up legal, physical, political and administrative territorial limits of a nation-state. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border). It is within the territorial limit as shown by the boundary line that a nation-State is expected to carry-out its functions; while the area outside her boundary is under the territory of another neighboring State to control. Borderland on the other hand, is the area immediately in either side of a boundary line, and border community is the people residing in borderland area. Historically boundary lines between communities were not based on a clearly defined line as such the area was called marching-land which means neutral zone. For example we have such area along part of Saudi Arabia–Kuwait and Iraq borders. In modern times March-land were replaced by clearly defined and benchmarked boundary lines based on some theories Borders have also been classified into natural borders, landscape borders, geometric borders, fiat borders, relic aborders, lines of control, maritime borders, airspace borders, and frontier. Furthermore administratively, there are various types of border regulation namely: open borders, regulated borders, and demilitarized zones which purpose is to ensure there is peace and development between states (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border;https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/boundary/6th-grade/).
