Calabar, Nigeria – The Cross River State Government (CRSG) has expressed its willingness to collaborate and synergise with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to find an amicable solution to the interstate boundary dispute with Abia State.
Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey made this known during a two-day Joint Meeting of Officials on the Abia/Cross River Interstate Boundary held at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, on Wednesday, December 11.
The Deputy Governor, who doubles as Chairman of the State Boundary Committee (SBC), represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Chief (Dr) Francis Ekpenyong, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and called for expedited efforts from stakeholders to settle the age-long boundary issues between communities along the disputed boundary.
He noted that these disputes have resulted in the loss of lives and property and the dislocation of so many persons, stating that these boundary lines are, in many cases, for administrative convenience.
While expressing optimism that all the boundary-related disputes in the state would soon be a thing of the past, Dr Odey commended the National Boundary Commission for charting a pathway to the peaceful management of interstate boundaries not only between Abia and Cross River State but across the country.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu said the time is now to resolve the lingering issues which have claimed lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
He reaffirmed the determination of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti in cooperating with NBC and the Cross River State Government in their efforts to permanently put to an end the lingering crisis.
In his welcome address, the Surveyor-General of Cross River State, Surv. Patrick Bassey registered his profound appreciation to all stakeholders for honouring NBC’s invitation and called on them to deliberate the issues that seek to permanently resolve the issues, noting that the meeting is an important meeting that provides an opportunity for stakeholders to jointly review the work of the technical experts as presented during the technical session.
Earlier in his address, the Director-general of the NBC, Surv. Adamu Adaji, stated that the commission’s focus over the years has been to re-establish the boundary in accordance with again documents, having inherited the boundary issue since 1990 which originated from the former Cross River/Imo boundary.
“Our past efforts have resulted in the tracing and provisional demarcation of the entire interstate boundary and the outcome resulted in the two states agreeing on the alignment in some sectors while however disagreeing in the grey sectors of Erei Farm settlement disputes, Abia, Achara and Biakpan communities and Mbiabong-Ito Arochukwu communities,” the NBC boss added.
He, however, charged stakeholders to promote confidence building and support the commission’s concerted efforts to restore peace and security to the affected border communities.
The meeting was attended by officials of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor-General of the Federation, Surveyors General of both states, Director General, Cross River State Border Commission (BorderCom), Council Chairmen from the affected Local Government Areas, Head of Personal Staff to the Deputy Governor, Traditional Rulers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Highpoint of the event was the adoption of a communique jointly signed by the Deputy Governors of both states.