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Tag: National Boundary Commission

  • Oyo, Osun blame NBC for Ibadan, Iwo boundary disputes

    Oyo, Osun blame NBC for Ibadan, Iwo boundary disputes

    Oyo and Osun State Governments have accused the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for what they described as the age-long boundary dispute between communities in Oyo and Osun States which has resulted in the loss of properties worth millions. 

    They called on the Commission to take urgent steps to resolve the lingering issue to prevent unnecessary tensions among the people of the two states while reaffirming their commitment to peace and unity as not just neighbors but brothers separated by state creation.

    They spoke during a high-level meeting to proffer lasting solution to the crisis rocking the communities. Ibadan.

    While Oyo Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal led state delegation, including leadership of the affected communities, Prince Kola Adewusi led the Osun State team to the meeting.

    The meeting blamed the Commission for not being specific on the exact boundary location between the communities in Ibadan and Iwo in Osun State.

    Representatives of the two states at the meeting emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties that bind their peoples, and also highlighted their mutual commitment to peace and cooperation.

    They warned divisive elements to desist from causing crisis as the full wrath of the law will fall on anyone found culpable of inciting violence or making inflammatory statements to escalate the situation.

    They maintained that there can be no alternative to peace on the lingering dispute. 

    The Nation reports the dispute gained public attention recently when the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, reported violent clashes between communities in Iwo and Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State. 

    The Oluwo had alleged that land grabbers from Lagelu have been attacking villages under Iwo including Ogburo, Ogunajo, Eleye and Molamu leading to arrest of suspects by security operatives. 

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, warnee those he described as forceful land grabbers to vacate the communities. 

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    The issue resulted in public altercation between foremost traditional rulers which made the Oyo State government urge all parties to be calm.

    However, as part of their fact finding mission on the true state of the border demarcation, the two Deputy Governors jointly led delegations of an on-the-spot inspection of Oba river, Ogburo and Tapa community, all under disputed border between Lagelu in Oyo and Osun west under Osun state. 

    Consequent upon their onsite inspection and engagements with traditional and community leaders of affected areas, the two states emphasised the brotherly relationship and the need for sustained peace in the pursuit of a lasting solution to the border demarcation crises.

    They stressed that the boundary conflict has persisted due to the NBC’s failure to finalise the demarcation process despite having memoranda from both states and their multiple interventions.

  • Oyo calls on boundary commission to mediate in dispute with Osun

    Oyo State government has called on National Boundary Commission (NBC) to mediate in the lingering inter- state boundary dispute between Oyo and Osun States.

    The Oyo State Surveyor General, Mr. Alaba Sekore made the call while addressing the journalists during his fact-finding mission visit to disputed areas at Surullere council area of the state.

    Sekore revealed that despite the directive given by the National Boundary Commission to the two States to maintain status quo in the area in dispute pending  final resolution, Osun State government has built physical projects such as boreholes, council development offices  in  boundary areas in Akinnu, Alagba, Koso of Surulere council area, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    He appealed to NBC to expedite action on the final resolution on the issue. He called on the  and security agencies especially  the AIG Zone 11 to warn his men to desist from alleged indiscriminate arrest of Oyo State residents including their chiefs at the boundary areas.

    In his remarks, the Chairman Surulere council area, Hon. Ibrahim Gbodeniyi  called on the people residing close to the boundaries to live peacefully and urged the Government of Osun to desist from actions that could lead to violence, noting  that the two states should allow the status quo to remain and wait for the outcome of NBC on the issue.

    Gbodeinyi  pleaded for the assistance from Oyo State government to embark on developmental projects in the  area.

  • Edo, Delta govts urge border communities on peaceful coexistence

    …tasks Boundary Commission to expedite action on demarcation

     

    The Edo and Delta state governments have called on border communities in both states to sheath their swords and live harmoniously pending the determination of boundaries by the National Boundary Commission.

    The advice was contained in a communique issued after a joint inter-state boundary meeting between Edo and Delta states at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    The two states committed to prevailing on the NBC to expedite action on final demarcation and survey of the disputed boundaries between the two states, noting, “A committee has been set up to look into legal and boundaries issues relating to the two states.

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    “The committee will comprise of the Attorney General of each state, Commissioner of Police of both states; Chairmen of Orhionmwon and Esan South East local government areas of Edo State and Ethiope East, Ukwani and Ika South local government areas in Delta State. Other members include Surveyor General of each state and the deputy chief of staff of Edo State.”

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu called on border communities in Edo and Delta states to sheath their swords over claims and counterclaims of land ownership, stressing that efforts are in top gear to resolve the dispute with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) leading the charge.

    Shaibu, who stressed that the two states ought not to have such issues as they made up the defunct Bendel State and share historical and cultural ties, he said there was need to maintain the strong bond and not allow disagreement on boundary divide them.

    He expressed appreciation to officials of the two states, noting that “despite the boundary dispute, we are still brothers. We were carved out of the old Bendel State and our history can be traced to Bendel. We should remain indivisible.”

    Explaining that the dispute by border communities started shortly after the creation of the two states in 1991, he said, “In 2001, the Federal Government waded into the crises by directing the NBC to undertake the provisional demarcation of the boundary between the two states.

    Shaibu urged the NBC to take urgent steps on the final demarcation of the boundary, as it will lay to rest the lingering tension and agitation between border communities of the two states.

    “This Inter-state boundary meeting is convened to douse the mounting tension in the border communities of our states.”

    Shaibu appealed to all communities in the border areas of Edo and Delta states to embrace peace, as the NBC and governments of Edo and Delta states intensify effort at ensure the demarcation of the boundary between the two states without further delay.

    Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, said Delta and Edo states are sister-states and share common experiences and historical antecedents.

    He noted that the boundary meeting for dispute resolution is held with the active participation and guidance of officials of NBC and the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation.

    “It is pertinent to recall that from the series of communique issued after various joint meetings held with the NBC, both states were always enjoined to maintain the status quo in areas of dispute, as a means of sustaining peace, pending the completion of the process.”

    He said a committee has been set up to ensure that law and order is maintained, pending the conclusion of the demarcation process by NBC.

    Commissioner of Police Edo State, Mr. Jonhson Kokumo appealed to the boundary communities to stop the attack on law enforcement agencies, especially the police as such act will no longer be tolerated.

    “Law enforcement agencies have been attacked severally while performing their constitutional role of maintaining law and order”.

     

     

  • War-weary Akwa Ibom community seeks peace

    War-weary Akwa Ibom community seeks peace

    War-weary people of Obot Itu in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom have indicated their willingness to live in peace with the Obodio community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Clan Head of Itu, Chief Nyong Inyang, stated this during a sensitisation exercise by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to pave way for final demarcation of the boundary communities.

    Obot Itu Clan is one of the communities in Itu that has been in boundary conflict with Ikot Offiong in Cross River State.

    Inyang said the people of Obot Itu and Obodio had been living together for centuries.

    He noted that since 1914 when the crisis began, the people of Obot Itu had been deprived of their means of livelihood.

    He said all the court judgments given from 1914 till date between Itu and Obodio communities had always been in favour of Itu people.

    “The Obot Itu and Obodio are people of the same kindred and had been living together for ages.

    “We urge government to intervene for peace to reign in the area. Let justice and equity reign in the boundary communities.

    “The people are molesting our women and our farmlands taken away from us,” Inyang said.

    The Clan Head also appealed to the state government to repair the road in the community because of its deplorable condition, adding that the road would revive the economy of the area.

    In his remarks, Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, said the Federal Government is set to finally put to rest the boundary dispute among communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states by placing a demarcation mark on the boundary.

    Ekpo, who was represented by a Permanent Secretary in his office Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said on July 11, this year, there was a joint meeting between the warring communities of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in order to sensitise members of the boundary communities to final boundary demarcation arrangements.

    He said government would not rest on its oars until all neighbouring communities live in peace.

    He appealed to the people of Obot Itu Clan and other boundary communities to remain calm and eschew violence.

    “The boundary demarcation is not meant to divide communities that have been living together for decades but for administrative purposes.

    “You must co-operate with government in its efforts to ensure peace and bring development to your communities’’, Ekpo said.

    Ekpo assured the people that government remains committed, firm and just in

    the demarcation exercise without ceding communities to one another.

    The Deputy Governor, who is also the Chairman of the State Boundary Committee warned youths not to allow anyone to use them to foment trouble.

    He urged the women to advise their children to desist from acts capable of disrupting the peace during the demarcation exercise.

    Earlier, Mr Marcel Ukweni, Zonal Liaison Officer, South-South zone of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) said the purpose of the commission was to preach peace, as it was the only condition that guarantees meaningful development.

    Ukweni reiterated the commission’s mandate to ensure that peace reigns in all boundary communities of the federation.

    He said: “Boundary is an imaginary line not to demarcate people, not a wall but a mark on the ground for the administrative convenience of both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.”

    In his remark, Akwa Ibom State Chief Resident Surveyor, Mr Bala Ipalibo said a boundary was not intended to restrict movement or hinder means of livelihood.

    He urged the Obot Itu Clan to co-operate with government in the demarcation exercise as it would bring meaningful development to the area.

  • FG set to resolve Delta, Edo boundary dispute

    FG set to resolve Delta, Edo boundary dispute

    The Federal Government is set to resolve the boundary dispute between Delta and Edo states , Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Dr Mohammed Ahmad, has said.

     

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Resident Information Officer of the commission, Mr Kabir Bala, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

     

    The director-general said that resolution of the dispute was part of effort to advance the definition and determination processes of boundary between both states.

     

    He said that there was need for the two states to maintain peace and concord in their border communities prior to the conclusion of the exercise.

     

    “ Boundary dispute is not a do-or-die affair. The lines are not walls; they are only identified and drawn for administrative purposes,’’ he said.

     

    Ahmad said that a joint meeting of officials of Edo/Delta Interstate Boundary Committee was held in Asaba few months ago to deliberate on ways to resolve the dispute.

     

    He said that the meeting deliberated on grey areas constituting challenges between both states.

     

    According to him, the meeting resolved to continue the enlightenment and sensitisation of border communities through the involvement of traditional rulers, chairmen of local government areas and other stakeholders.

     

    Ahmad said that the states would maintain ‘status quo’ pending final determination of their boundary by the commission, adding that field work on the grey areas would be undertaken from June 6 to July 22.

     

    The statement said that Deputy Governor of Delta, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, in his remark said that the states were one and the same, notwithstanding the “artificial boundary’’ between them.

     

    Otuaro, however, called for urgent resolution of the boundary dispute to avoid unhealthy commotion between the border communities and the states.

     

    Similarly, Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Pius Egberanmwen, commended the resolve of boundary commission to settle the dispute.

     

    Egberanmwen said that Edo would complement the efforts of the Federal Government by supporting and cooperating with the officials of the commission for the successful completion of the exercise.

  • FG intervenes in Anambra, Kogi clashes

    FG intervenes in Anambra, Kogi clashes

    The Federal Government Friday intervened in the bloody clashes in oil rich border communities of Anambra and Kogi States, which had killed several people.

    Towards resolving the dispute, Vice President Namadi Sambo presided over a meeting behind closed-doors and attended by representatives of the two state governments and the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State said that a lot of progress has been made in the attempt to resolve the matter.

    Expressing hope that the matter would be resolved by the end of the year, he said the NBC is tracing the boundary of the affected areas.

    According to him, every effort is being made to maintain peace and tranquillity in his state.

    The Anambra State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nkem Okeke, also said the resolution of the crisis was foremost on the mind of the governor, Willie Obiano, whom he said, wants a quick end to the senseless killings.

    He said that his state was pleased with the vice president‘s intervention, especially with his directive to the NBC on the matter.

    He said, “I am here representing my principal, Chief Willie Obiano, who is unavoidably absent because of the burial of Prof. Dora Akunyili.

    “I think this is one thing that is foremost on his mind to solve. Nobody wants senseless killings, killings for no reason. He sent me here to make sure that we get things moving, and I’m quite pleased with the meeting, with the way the vice president carried out the meeting.”

    “He gave directive to the NBC to set a date to do all the necessary surveys and establish the boundary between us and Kogi State and I believe, in the near future, things will be sorted out.”