FG Moves to Settle Abia, Anambra Boundary Dispute as NBC Advances Intervention

Nigeria's National Boundary Commission (NBC) is advancing efforts to peacefully settle the interstate boundary dispute between Abia and Anambra states, reporting significant progress in delineating their common border. Adamu Adaji, the NBC Director General, commended both state governments for their cooperation during a joint meeting in Awka.

Adaji revealed that 15 kilometers of the 23-kilometer boundary have been jointly traced and provisionally demarcated. Discussions are now focused on resolving the remaining eight-kilometer stretch. The meeting reviewed recommendations from a technical expert meeting held on July 1, 2026, aiming for practical and mutually acceptable solutions.

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The Commission remains committed to providing the technical, administrative and institutional support required to bring this process to a successful conclusion.

"The Commission remains committed to providing the technical, administrative and institutional support required to bring this process to a successful conclusion," Adaji stated. He expressed hope that the meeting would reinvigorate the resolution process and foster lasting peace and good neighborliness.

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Our expectation is that this meeting will reinvigorate the boundary resolution process and promote lasting peace, good neighbourliness and sustainable development among the affected communities.

Abia State's Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff Chijioke Nwankwo, welcomed the consensus on the 15-kilometer section and urged its immediate monumentation. He stressed that the remaining corridor should be resolved strictly following NBC procedures, historical records, technical evidence, and judicial pronouncements, emphasizing that state-produced maps should not be the primary basis for boundary determination.

Anambra State reiterated its commitment to peaceful dialogue and constitutional processes. Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, represented by Senior Special Assistant Ekenechukwu Okoye, stated that boundary disputes require sincerity, professionalism, and mutual respect, with the welfare of affected communities remaining paramount. He expressed confidence in the technical expertise available.

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state-produced maps should not serve as the basis for determining interstate boundaries, describing Supreme Court judgments and other valid legal instruments as indispensable in achieving a credible and enduring settlement.