The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Comrade Joel Salifu, has called for increased efforts to sensitize border communities and revisit grey areas to gain local cooperation.
Comrade Salifu, who is Chairman of the Kogi State Boundary Committee, said earlier attempts to monument boundaries between Kogi and Edo states were stalled due to unresolved issues and lack of proper sensitization of border communities.
He made this known during the joint meeting of officials on the Kogi/Edo interstate boundary held in Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting was convened by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) as part of ongoing efforts to promote the definition and final demarcation of the boundary between the two states.
Comrade Joel Salifu identified key areas of concern, including the Ogori/Ekpedo and Okene/Okpella sectors, as well as Ake Island, and called on the Commission to urgently address emerging tensions in some border communities like Ibaji communities in Kogi State and Uloshi community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State over farmland ownership.
Kogi State Deputy Governor commended the Commission for organizing the meeting at a critical time, noting that although the boundary has witnessed disputes in the past, both Edo and Kogi States are now committed to resolving all outstanding issues peacefully.
He called for the establishment of an inclusive demarcation team involving traditional institutions and other stakeholders, while appealing to the Commission to allow the two states set up the committees to sensitize their people inother for the boundary delimitation exercise to be peaceful.
He said Kogi State’s participation showed the government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s continued commitment to peaceful resolution of boundary matters, strengthened inter-state cooperation, and support for federal initiatives aimed at giving clarity, peace and stability along state boundaries.
He was accompanied by Hon. Enesi Ahmed Nuhu, Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon Rosemary Ohiezu Chairman of Ogori-Magongo local government area, Surv. Salihu Mustepha, Surveyor General of Kogi State, Surv. Negedu Achimugu Amos, Assistant Surveyor General of Kogi State, Surv. Bavua Yusuf Maikudi Chief Surveyor of Kogi State, Surv. Akagwu John, Secretary Kogi State Boundary Committee, Barrister Stanley Atule, Legal Adviser of the Kogi State Boundary Committee, among others.
