When Abia/Ebonyi moved to resolve three decades of boundary disputes

Nigeria for decades counted losses in various ways as a result of disputes arising from boundary demarcation and adjustments.

The latest was that of Abia and Ebonyi States who have been at each other’s throats since 1987 despite the separation of the two sister states in 1991.

The development had kept many wondering, if state creation was a blessing or a curse to the people of both states.

Successive administrations of both states failed to achieve settlement until Thursday, August 6, 2015 when the key players of both states converged at Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Umuahia to finally settle the decades-long issues.

The day was remarkable as reconciliation for peace was reached in the presence of both states’ deputy governors who signed a pact to end three decades of boundary dispute under the watchful eyes of the Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Dr. M.B. Ahmad.

At the meeting, the Abia State deputy governor and chairman, Abia State Boundary Committee, Ude Oko Chukwu, noted that the volatile nature of the states’ boundary dispute was induced by the presence of mineral resources in the boundary area.

He hinted that steps are being taken to resolve the disputes at various peace meetings while he appealing for peace among the warring parties.

“Let me state here, that Abia State is ready and willing to ensure that our boundary with Ebonyi is completely demarcated. We want our people to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours in Ebonyi State,” he stated.

On his part, Ebonyi state deputy governor/chairman, Ebonyi State Boundary Committee, Mr Eric Kelechi Igwe also noted there was relative peace at the moment while entreating security agents to maintain the tempo.

He emphasised the need for both states. to build on the communiqué prepared and signed earlier during the previous meetings maintaining further that status quo on the peace meeting be upheld pending final demarcation of the two states’ boundary.

The deputy governor assured that measures will be put in place to carry out sensitisation in the state’s border communities with Abia, Enugu, Cross River and Benue States to ensure peaceful and amicable demarcation of boundaries within their neighbouring sister states to stop further bloodshed.

To ensure the issue is put to rest for good, Dr. M.B. Ahmad regretted, however, that the progress on each of the interstate boundaries was not commensurate with efforts put in place.

He blamed the slow pace of the progress mainly on the states because of their decision not to accord boundary issues the required priority attention.

He recalled during his visit to Abia in 2014, when the boundary issues were discussed to identify the challenges but delayed implementation of the outcome later aggravated tension at the affected border communities.

The director-general who gave the status of the interstate boundaries of the state as follows, Abia /Akwa Ibom, Abia/Anambra, Abia/Cross River, Abia/Ebonyi as well as Abia /Enugu, Abia/Imo and Abia /Rivers stated that demarcated boundaries were not only essential for peaceful co-existence and cross border co-operation, but to show the limit of constituted authorities for ease of developmental plans.

It was against this background that the director general appealed to both state boundary committee chairmen to ensure adequate participation in all joint boundary activities and prayed that the seven interstate boundaries involving Abia State be defined and demarcated as quickly as possible. He charged the committees to interface with the commission and strategise on practicable work plans on how to address the outstanding works on some other boundaries.

Meanwhile a brief on Abia/Ebonyi interstate boundary situation was also presented at the joint meeting of the surveyor-general of the federation, Abia and Ebonyi States’ surveyors-general respectively, as a communiqué marking the end of meeting/resolution was also drafted among committee members.