The governments of Abia and Ebonyi state have reached a concrete agreement to find permanent solution to the border disputes between the two neighbouring states, which have lingered for over two decades. The latest clashes which occurred at Ivo/Umunneochi border axis on July 15, 2015 led to destruction of properties on both sides while one person identified as Chukwuma Akwa is still missing.
The search for lasting peace involving the boundary committees of both states and officials of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) came about at a tripartite meeting held at Umuahia the Abia state capital; with Abia and Ebonyi expressing their strong desire for final demarcation of the 70km interstate boundary.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the tripartite meeting and endorsed by the trio of Abia Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Ude Oko Chukwu; his Ebonyi counterpart, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe and the DG of NBC, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad, the major stakeholders agreed “to continue to encourage good neighbourliness through proper information dissemination”. And to further ensure peaceful co-existence it was agreed that there should be joint utilisation of border resources by border communities of both states.
The parties agreed that additional delimitation documents could submitted to the NBC by either side before the end of this month “for consideration and use for the fieldwork as appropriate”.
For the actual delineation exercise slated for between September 1 and 4, 2015, three technical experts of both states, including the Surveyor -general and three others were mandated to meet with NBC at Abuja for the delineation of the boundary “in accordance with already screened and accepted document”.
The parties further resolved that the join fieldwork should be completed on or before December 18, 2015 beginning at the Uru-Lokpanta axis after the inauguration of the joint field team slated for November 17, 2015 at Nwkoagu Umunneochi local government, Abia state.
In order to ensure smooth conclusion of the boundary demarcation exercise the two state governments, chairmen of affected councils and traditional rulers were specifically enjoined to carry out enlightenment campaigns in the areas involved during the period of fieldwork.
Both Abia and Ebonyi had through their respective Deputy Governors expressed their strong desire for peace to reign along their interstate border and pledged to provide all the assistance needed by the NBC to demarcate the border once and for all.
“Let me state here that Abia State is ready and willing to ensure that our boundary with Ebonyi state is completely demarcated, “Abia Deputy Governor said, adding, “We want our people to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours in Ebonyi state”.
He noted that “the disputes are actually land disputes which were converted to interstate boundary disputes because they now exist across the border of the two states” while “unguarded desire to acquire more land for farming and to own quarry sites are the primary causes of the disputes”.
Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Chief Kelechi Igwe agreed with his Abia counterpart on the need for peace to reign in the border communities, saying that Ebonyi had already declared its readiness for peace and proper delineation of the disputed boundary and reaffirmed same.
The NBC DG, Dr. Ahmad said the Commission had over the years taken different actions on interstate boundaries involving Abia and its neighbours and noted with regrets that progress on each of the interstate boundaries “is not commensurate with our efforts and inputs”.
“Clearly defined and demarcated boundaries are not only essential for peaceful co-existence and cross-border co-operation, they show the limits of constituted authorities for ease of developmental plans,” he said.
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