Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surv. Adamu Adaji, says the commission will intervene in crisis affected areas in the country to restore economic growth.
A press release from the commission said the Director-General stated this on Monday at the Joint Meeting of Officials on Abia/Akwa Ibom interstate boundary organised by the NBC in Umuahia.
The press release signed by Mrs Efe Ovuakporie, NBC’s Head of Information said the meeting was convoked as part of efforts to resuscitate the necessary fieldworks in the Abia/Akwa Ibom boundary.
She quoted the DG as saying that all attempts to resolve the issues in the past has yielded little or no effect despite the decisions and resolutions reached in the past to quickly define and demarcate the boundaries of the states by the previous governments.
“When agreements on programs are not promptly implemented within a time frame it could portend grave dangers and lead to waste of government scarce resources, time and energy as parties concerned may have to meet again and again,” the DG stated.
“Adaji emphasized that the journey towards the demarcation of Abia/Akwa Ibom interstate boundary started since 2013 and has lingered on till date because of the of lack of will to follow through, this he lamented has stalled fieldwork in the areas and in turn affected the targeted date of completion adding that this has further affected the boundary communities.
“He therefore appealed to the different states governments to adequately support the state boundary committees to enable their states to actively participate in the exercise to facilitate the definition and demarcation process.
“In his remarks, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Abia state Boundary Committee, Rt Hon. Sir Ude Chukwu who spoke on behalf of the two states urged the NBC’s Director General to use his wealth of knowledge to settle all the lingering boundary disputes between Abia state and all its neighbouring states and bring a lasting solution to the affected areas.
“He noted that both states share common traditions but however lamented that the differences of claims by some border communities have tended to create tension between the sister states.
“He therefore called on the affected border communities to embrace peace and allow fieldworks to continue.
“The deputy governor used the occasion to call on the federal government to give adequate support to the NBC to enable it carry out it statutory function whilst pledging the readiness of the two states to support all the efforts of the National Boundary Commission geared towards the quick settlement of all their boundary issues.
“Other participants at the event include the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, Moses Ekpo, Surveyor General of the federation, Surv. Taiwo Adeniron who was represented by the deputy director, internal boundary Surv. Duniya Joseph.”
