National Boundary Commission (NBC), on Wednesday, held a One-Day Joint sensitization campaign on boundary demarcation for Enugu and Ebonyi states, calling on the people of the two states to embrace peace m.
Speaking at the event, which held in Enugu, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State and Chairman, Enugu State Boundary Committee, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, commended the National Boundary Commission and the office of the Surveyor-General of the federation for the efforts channelled to the speedy and peaceful definition , determination and demarcation of the interstate boundaries between Enugu / Ebonyi states.
She expressed happiness that the age long inter state boundary dispute between Enugu and Ebonyi states was “coming to an end in a most amicable and friendly way ” .
The Deputy governor urged the people of the states to ensure that the “great feat is achieved without hiccup.”
She noted that:
“As a state, we are very much ready and in support of this move to ensure that the boundary between the two sister states is defined and demarcated to a very possible reoccurence of land skirmishes in the near future”
.
According to the deputy governor, ‘Boundary demarcation is not a barrier to friendship or brotherhood , but an administrative way of keeping the records straight , so as to forestall war or bloodshed , arising from trespass by land grabbers
” Defining and demarcating state boundaries assists in outlining state jurisdiction and ones rights and lmits from another thereby bringing about peace and unity among border dwellers”, she said
Ezeilo appealed to the local communities to be very co-operative in the demarcation and pillar emplacement exercise to see that it comes to fruition at the end of the day”
She assured that the the communities in sectors 7 and 8 which did not participate in the last field completion exercises were now willing and ready to comply in all exercises leading to the final determination of these lingering boundary issues
In a remark, the deputy governor of Ebonyi state, and chairman, Ebonyi state boundary committee, Barrister Kelechi Igwe expressed delight that the states met and dialogued as brothers and sisters on the way forward.
” On our last meeting in Abakaliki, we resolved that we should assidiously sustain part of peace that we relied upon.
This will serve as a road map to achieving better relationship and understanding among our communities, ” Igwe said.
He added that the joint sensitisation is expected to smoothing any rough part and pave a way to peace in the 36km disputed boundary communities.
In his address, the Director General of National Boundary Commission(NBC), Surveyor Adamu Ibaji assured the participants that the federal government as well as Enugu and Ebonyi states were anxious to see to the end of the lingering boundary dispute.
He said that the fieldwork will start with the emplacement of about 146 number main pillars to define the 94km stretch of the consensus sectors of the interstate boundary. It is a common knowledge that good fences make good neighbours .
He stated that the present Enugu /Ebonyi interstate boundary was at one time inter-divisional boundary between Abakiliki and Nsukka Divisions, which transformed into part of the intra- State boundary of the old Enugu before the creation of Ebonyi state in October, 1996. It is regrettable that occasional difference s in the perception of the boundary alignment had created unnecessary tension that had tended to create bad blood amongst brothers. This cannot be allowed to continue.
The Director-General recalled that the field tracing exercise carried out on the boundary in 2011 revealed that there is a sector of the interstate boundary where the communities of Ebonyi and Enugu States on the opposite sides of the line showed and agreed on a common boundary(the consensus sector).
That there are sectors identified to be disputed as the communities on the opposite sides show different claims and that there is the sector involving the communities of Amaeke and Amaeze in Ishiagu local government area(Ebonyi state) and Michele and Umurah in Ndiabo ( Enugu State) where no boundary line was shown because the communities pledged to accept any boundary line that may be determined by the government as it is a taboo for them to show a boundary line ”
He said that the joint meeting of officials held in 2013 directed a repeat of the fieldwork on the boundary so as to highlight the consensus and disputed sectors.
” This was done and the result was the same as the first fieldwprk which showed that the consensus sector is about 94km, while the disputed and skipped sectors is 36km.
” The recent meeting held in Abakiliki in February, 2021 agreed that the monumentation exercise shall commence from 1st week of March, 2021 for initial period of 90 days.
“That the grey areas shall be resolved using instruments line already agreed upon by both states, subsistence certified court judgements as well as administrative practices to serve as guide in the determination of the boundary.
” That adequate security shall be put in place by both states towards the effective participation of the field officers during the monumention exercise.
” That the states shall sponsor their contingents during the pillar emplacement exercise scheduled from first week of March, 2021.
The Director General appealed for support and corporation of the affected communities throughout the duration of the demarcation exercise. He said that the clergymen,, traditional rulers, , women and the youths of the different communities have vital roles to play and must do everything possible to promote peace and unity amongst their people .
” We must understand that interstate boundaries are not walls or barries separating the border people but rather are only for adminitrative limits”,he said
Adaji appealed to the traditional rulers to help promote peaceful boundary regime if they occasionally consider and exchange of Royal visits across the divide and to also monitor the activities of their subjects.
He urged the” Clergymen to preach the gospel of love and peace, the youths to be engaged in such activities as cross border trades, marriages as well as healthy sport competitions to foster integration and unity with their neighbours. He added that the women need to continue in their exchanges of commercial and cultural activities with their neighbours.
The director general noted that women can positively influence the conducts of their husbands and children in the promotion of the virtues of peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness.
He observed that incidences of tension and threat to peace and security in disputed sectors of the boundary are the reasons for the noticeable under- development and lack of social facilities in the affected areas and as such , the communities must embrace peace and unity and imbibe the followings to promote unity and harmonious co-existence amongst the people, Adaji said.
He thanked the people of Enugu and Ebonyi states for their resilience, patience and resolve to embrace peace as people who share so much in common in all facets of human endeavour, historically, socially, economically and culturally. He thanked governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State for their support and genuine commitment to the definition of the common interstate boundary.
