Anambra, Abia Stakeholders Meet NBC, Pledge Peaceful Resolution of Inter-state Disputes

Officials from Anambra and Abia states, including deputy governors and traditional rulers, convened with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) in Awka to chart a course for resolving inter-state boundary disputes. The meeting aimed to foster a path forward for the long-standing issues separating the two regions.

During the gathering at the Anambra Country Club, representatives from both states renewed their commitment to a peaceful resolution. They also prayed for wisdom, unity, and lasting peace between their communities. The deputy governors of both states urged all parties to embrace dialogue and avoid actions that could disrupt the established relationship between communities living on either side of the boundary.

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Boundary issues affect the lives, identity, and livelihoods of the people and therefore require sincerity, fairness, and professionalism to achieve a lasting solution.

Representing the Anambra State Boundary Committee, Hon. Ekenechukwu Okoye, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Boundary Matters, reiterated the state's dedication to resolving the dispute through constitutional means, dialogue, and established legal procedures. He emphasized that boundary issues profoundly affect people's lives, identities, and livelihoods, necessitating sincerity, fairness, and professionalism for a lasting solution.

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The Commission remains committed to providing the technical and institutional support required to conclude the exercise in line with historical records, legal instruments, and established procedures.

Surveyor Adamu A. Adaji, Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, commended both state governments for their sustained peaceful engagement. He disclosed that out of the 23-kilometer common boundary, about 15 kilometers have already been jointly traced and provisionally demarcated. Efforts are actively underway to resolve the remaining eight-kilometer stretch, with the NBC committed to providing necessary technical and institutional support.

Hon. Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Abia State Deputy Governor's office, described the meeting as another valuable opportunity to strengthen the bond of peace between the two sister states. He praised the NBC for maintaining dialogue and acknowledged the spirit of peace demonstrated by both governments throughout the negotiation process. He noted that despite administrative boundaries, they share common ancestry, culture, and aspirations, urging that monuments should symbolize peace, not division.

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As neighbours, we may be separated by administrative boundaries, but we share the same ancestry, culture, and common aspirations. The monuments we erect should become symbols of peace and not division.