The Kogi and Edo states boundary disputes have remained unresolved due to vanished landmarks, competing claims and community resistance.
Adamu Adaji, Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
He said technical and administrative efforts had produced an approved boundary line, but implementation faced resistance from communities along the corridor.
Meanwhile, Adaji said the commission recorded progress on the Abia-Anambra boundary, with 15 kilometres of the 23-kilometre stretch already agreed upon.
According to Adaji, the Kogi-Edo boundary was defined under Legal Notice No. 126 of 1954, which established the boundary between the Northern and Western Regions.
He said some physical features referenced in the document had disappeared over time, making it difficult for experts to accurately trace the boundary.
Adaji said technical experts had attempted to interpret the historical documents, but the disappearance of landmarks introduced subjective judgment into determining the boundary.
“This has led the parties to continue laying claims in different areas,” Adaji said, recalling efforts dating back to 2006 to establish the boundary.
He said the commission considered the claims of both states and eventually produced a line regarded as the boundary between Kogi and Edo.
Adaji said the proposed boundary was subsequently approved by the Internal Boundary Committee, paving the way for its physical demarcation.
However, the NBC boss said the exercise encountered resistance when the contractor moved to establish the approved boundary on the ground.
He said communities along the corridor objected, arguing that the proposed line did not correspond with their understanding of the boundary.
“The affected communities consequently resisted the demarcation, prompting the commission to engage stakeholders and seek broader agreement,” he said.
Adaji said the parties met again earlier in the year to determine how the approved boundary could be physically established and assess its implications.
He said the agreement was challenged after some parties withheld full cooperation and presented documents indicating possible changes to the boundary.
“Some documents included court judgments that have not previously been brought to the commission’s attention.
“We have to examine these issues and engage the states so that we can arrive at a common understanding,” he said.
Adaji said the Kogi-Edo boundary process remained ongoing, adding that the commission had agreed to commence demarcation when resources became available.
(NAN)
