NBC DG, Adaji makes case for State, Local boundary committees

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has called on State Governments of the federation that are yet to establish State and Local Government level boundary committees to do so in the interest of peace and unity in border communities.

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TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Director-General of NBC, Mr Adamu Adaji made the call at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Thursday.

The NBC DG fielded questions from journalists on the resolutions of boundary disputes in Nigeria, revealing that the Commission has been able to resolve about forty-three out of eighty-six inter-state boundary disputes in the country.

Mr Adaji added that the NBC would continue in its efforts to emplace pillars for more visibility of the boundary demarcation.

He, however, revealed that some States have not been cooperative in addressing their border challenges.

He called on the State Governments to address the issues of community ownership of boundaries by sensitizing the inhabitants on the governance of the areas which is part of the focal of the State government.

The NBC DG noted that despite the challenges encountered with some States in bringing an end to boundary disagreements, the Commission has been able to record successes in some other states like Kwara/Osun, Lagos/Ogun, Adamawa/Taraba, Katsina/Jigawa, Benue/Cross-river, amongst others.

“I call on the States to kindly establish their State Boundary Committee as well as the Local Government Boundary Committee in all the local government areas. They should be made functional,” Adaji said.

On the international borders Nigeria shares with neighbouring countries, the DG said that the demarcation process has been completed, and that, work was still in progress with the Cameroon-Nigeria boundary area.

“We have initiated the commencement of border states to relate closely with their neighbors across international boundaries. This would also carry the issues of interventions and interactions down to the grassroots.

“The affected local governments would also interact with their corresponding local governments across the boundaries. So it is expected of the communities to interact more so that the policy of Nigeria in promoting unity and integration can be enhanced,” he said.

Speaking on trans-border economic cooperation in Africa, the NBC boss disclosed that the Commission would continue to engage in relations that would improve the economy of Nigeria and her neighbouring countries.

“Recently the National Boundary Commission partnered with the Seabed Authorities alongside other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Nigeria to organise a workshop for the sustainable development of Africa’s deep seabed resources to support the blue economy of the continent.

“The Commission encourages activities like this for the benefit of Nigeria and her neighbours,” Adaji said.