JOINT MEETING OF OFFICIALS ON BENUE/NASARAWA INTER-STATE BOUNDARY DISCUSS

INTERSTATE Stakeholders have converged on Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital to ensure an end to boundary disputes affecting Benue and Nasarawa states. 

The steps taken to address boundary issues of the two states were taken during a Joint meeting of officials of Nasarawa-Benue Interstate boundary held at the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lafia.

INTERSTATE Underscoring the importance of the meeting, Chairman, Nasarawa state Boundary Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu Keana informed delegates that it seeks to have a common understanding towards amicable ways of establishing a monumental boundary demarcation and expressed optimism in that direction.

His counterpart from Benue state, Surveyor Zach Ade sued for the establishment of a Boundary Dispute Committee by the National Boundary Commission, NBC so as to handle grey ares and the need to sweep mines to avoid blowing up while officials are on field as well as address the insecurity on the border between Benue and Nasarawa states for a smooth exercise.

For the, Deputy Governor of Nasarawa state, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the meeting is germane having come as a result of concerns raised by the two states to physically demarcate their boundary, adding that Nasarawa state is committed to achieving set objectives and will support the state boundary commission towards the success of the exercise.

On his part, Deputy Governor of Benue state, Engineer Benson Abonu who decried the lack of implementation of communiques and resolutions adopted after previous meetings of boundary disputes made a case for concrete steps to end such disputes and inclusion of youths in the dialogues regarding delineation of interstate boundaries to avoid obstacles.

Chairman, National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaje and representative of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Duniya Magaji Joseph said their task as agencies of government is not to engage in boundary adjustment but to define such boundaries using existing documents, calling for political will and support of traditional rulers as well as other stakeholders to the course.

They equally stressed the need for adequate enlightenment of communities and corporation of people of Nasarawa and Benue states to curb resistance and other impediments to the boundary demarcation exercise, just as presentations by the Surveyors General of the two states and suggestions on the way forward by traditional rulers and other stakeholders were made to ensure its success.