By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has issued a heartfelt appeal to the governments of Nigeria and Niger to urgently mend frayed diplomatic ties, warning that prolonged tensions are hurting ordinary citizens and undermining centuries-old bonds between what it describes as “twin nations.”
Speaking through its National President, Hon. Khalid Muhammad Bello, the association stressed that Nigeria and Niger share far more than a boundary line. From culture and language to trade routes and family ties, the two neighbours, he said, are deeply intertwined in ways no political disagreement should sever.
KACRAN noted that the nearly 1,608-kilometre shared border has long served as a bridge rather than a barrier—facilitating cross-border commerce, seasonal livestock movement and social cohesion. In many communities, families straddle both sides of the frontier, while markets rely on daily flows of goods and cattle that sustain local economies.
The association sounded a clear warning that ongoing diplomatic strains are already taking a toll on cross-border trade and the livestock value chain, with ripple effects most visible during peak demand periods such as Eid al-Kabir and other major festivities.
Disruptions, KACRAN said, raise costs, reduce supply, and place unnecessary pressure on pastoralists, traders and consumers alike.
Beyond economics, KACRAN urged both governments to prioritise citizen welfare and deepen joint security cooperation to tackle shared challenges across the Sahel, including transnational crime and insecurity. According to the association, dialogue and diplomacy—rather than distance—remain the surest path to stability and progress.
In a closing appeal, KACRAN called for a renewed commitment to amicable resolution, sustained collaboration and mutual respect, arguing that peace between Nigeria and Niger is not only vital to their people but essential to prosperity across the wider West African sub-region.
“History binds us, borders connect us, and cooperation will secure our future,” the association declared.
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