The Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) underscores its commitment to collaborate with the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation and other critical stakeholders to enhance the living standards of people living in Nigeria’s border communities.

During a courtesy visit to the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Abuduganiyu A. Adebomehin, Dr. George D.A. Kelly (FNIQS), the Executive Secretary of BCDA, thanked the Surveyor General of the Federation for the warm reception accorded to him and his entourage and went further to articulate the purpose of his visit. He emphasized the necessity to engage and synergize with the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation as a pivotal stakeholder and member of BCDA’s Governing Board. The focus is for a robust and unparalleled collaboration between the two organizations on identifying areas of mutual interest to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people living in the border communities.

Dr. Kelly elaborated that on his assumption of office, he quickly hit the ground running to establish the immediate status of the agency, identify the gaps therein with a vision to repositioning the Agency to fulfil its mandate which is the provision of infrastructural, socio-economic and security needs of the people living in the border communities. He said the Agency has within three weeks under his leadership, developed an accelerated Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and a Medium-Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) for the short-term, medium-term and long term with a view to addressing the developmental needs of the border communities in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary said the efficient and effective collaboration between the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation will be very beneficial to BCDA. The enormous field data, technology and expertise at their disposal will assist the Agency in locating and identifying Border Communities within the 5 geo-political zones (North-East, North West, North Central, South West and South South) that are in need of basic social and infrastructural amenities like health care, water, schools etc to benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR led Federal Government of Nigeria.

The meeting made an instant progress as the Executive Secretary’s request for assistance in setting up a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit in BCDA was expressly granted by the Surveyor General Surv. Abuduganiyu A. Adebomehin and he offered training opportunities in mapping technologies to enhance BCDA’s operational capabilities.

In response, the Surveyor General of the Federation Surv. Abuduganiyu A. Adebomehin, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for appointing Dr. George D.A. Kelly FNIQS as the Execuitve Secretary of BCDA. He said Dr. Kelly’s appointment has birthed a new beginning and opportunity to the strategic partnership that is meant to exist among the two agencies.

The Surveyor General went further to say that his office is willing to offer BCDA staff basic training in AxisGIS and other technological advances in mapping as this will benefit the Agency and the field staff in the course of executing their numerous field work seamlessly. He also enjoined the members of the Executive Secretary’s delegation to give him the required support to succeed in the discharge of his duties.

During the interactive session, Surv. Abuduganiyu A. Adebomehin also warned that working at the borders had its security challenges and communities that have not had government presence could be a bit hostile or non-receptive.  He emphasised the importance of collaboration between BCDA and the Surveyor General’s office in navigating these challenges and ensuring successful project execution.

Concluding, the Surveyor General of the Federation in his commitment to the renewed partnership between the organizations promised to provide BCDA with detailed maps showing border communities and landmarks that will facilitate BCDA’s targeted development efforts in the border communities in Nigeria.

Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) seeks to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other critical stakeholders to reposition the Agency and also to raise the living standard of people living along border communities in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary BCDA Dr. George-Kelly D. Alabo (FNIQS) in his address during the courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON), said the purpose of his visit is to engage and synergize with the Ministry as a critical stakeholder and member of the Governing Board of the BCDA on areas that will help to improve the living conditions and socio-economic wellbeing of the people in the border communities.
Dr. George-Kelly D. Alabo FNIQS went further to inform the Honourable Minister that BCDA has a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework from 2024-2027 and there’s the need to think outside the box to access funding both internally and externally to execute developmental projects to bridge the Agency’s poor funding and sole reliance on federal government to meet up the various sectoral needs of the border communities ranging from; Healthcare, Education, Security Agriculture, Empowerment etc. for over 3000 communities in 105 local governments in 21 states of the Federation.
He also said the Agency is faced with an enormous task to impact on the various border communities across the country and this will be achieved and addressed in phases from one geo-political zone to the other. Dr. Alabo and Ambassador Tuggar agreed for the formation of Tink-tank from both organizations to get great value from the expected collaborations.
The Executive Secretary BCDA also stated that the border communities are the gateway and the first line of interface with other countries as they reflect the image of Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is necessary that basic amenities should be provided for the people living in these communities in order to get their loyalty and allegiance. And inline with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), BCDA is ready to collaborate with the Ministry to ameliorate the people living in the border communities.
In his response, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON) while welcoming the Executive Secretary and his Team at the Tafawa Balewa House said Border Communities Development Agency is an integral part of the Ministry’s programme and the Federal Government’s. The Honourable Minister said the ‘4D Policy’ of the Federal Government (Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora) will be compatible with BCDA’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework Plan. He went further to say the border areas have weaker presence of government and hence the persistent crime rate and the Executive Secretary’s plan to reposition the Agency should be more of a long-term effective plan that will benefit and impact on the people living in the border communities. His Excellency, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar (OON) also stated that BCDA partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stands to benefit from external funding for the execution of its numerous developmental projects across the border communities in Nigeria as the ministry interfaces with a lot of foreign donors like the European Union and other foreign countries.
In conclusion, the Honorable Minister said BCDA should be playing a micro diplomacy role along the border communities.

Courtesy Visit by The Executive Secretary Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Captain Junaid Abdullahi To His Excellency, The Vice President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima CFR and Chairman Governing Board of BCDA at The State House, Abuja. 22/02/24. For more on this, click the link. https://x.com/stanleynkwocha_/status/1760978459818365339?s=20

The Katsina State Government and Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) are collaborating to raise the living standard of people living along border communities in Katsina state.

The Executive secretary BCDA Captain Junaid Abdullahi stated this when he received the Katsina state Governor, His Excellency Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda PhD on 13^th February, 2024 at the Agency’s head office in Abuja.

Welcoming the delegation, the Executive Secretary (BCDA) Captain Junaid Abdullahi congratulated the Governor on his election noting that Katsina State is one of the principal stakeholders of Border Communities Development Agency, as it is a border state with about 3 to 4 international border post. The Executive Secretary stated that BCDA has executed and completed quite a number of projects in the border communities of Katsina state.

The Executive Secretary noted that the good working relationship that exists between the state and the Agency will enhance a more robust collaboration and facilitate addressing issues of insecurity within the region.

Speaking further, Captain Junaid Abdullahi said, raising the standard of living would help address the issues of poverty in those communities and also reduce the prevailing issue of insecurity which is also as a result of poverty challenges experienced in border communities.

Responding, The Executive Governor of Katsina State expressed his gratitude to the Executive Secretary BCDA and his management team for executing over 50 projects ranging from School blocks of Classrooms, Boreholes, Solar Street lights, Health facilities among others from 2015 to 2023 in Katsina state, while also pledging his constant support to the developmental activities of BCDA in Katsina State.

The Governor also assured that the government of Katsina State is willing to collaborate more with the Agency in delivering developmental projects that will boost the economy of the border communities and by extension raise the standard of living of the people living in those border communities as this would seriously reduce the challenges of banditry and insecurity in the state.

BCDA will be handing over 4 newly completed developmental projects in some border communities in Katsina state to the state government. In the Agency’s 2024 budget, a total number of 10 projects will be executed in Katsina state.

Bala Ugah

Head, Public Affairs & Protocol Unit.