The National Boundary Commission in Nigeria (NBC) has urged the governments of Kebbi and Niger states to establish well-functioning boundary demarcations between Kaudu and Bakin Ruwa villages of Bagudo local government area in Kebbi State and those of Kwankoso in Niger State.
Director-general of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, made the call during a joint meeting of officials on the Kebbi/Niger Interstate Boundary held in Abuja on Friday.
Mr Adaji emphasized the need for a constituted Joint Technical Committee of the states and the commission to revisit the identified documents and re-evaluate their appropriateness for use in defining the boundary.
He also proposed the establishment of Local Government Boundary Committees in each local government area by the states as well as sensitising affected communities on interstate boundaries.
and the imperative of peaceful co-existence with their neighbours.
He also suggested, “The investigation and articulation of all facts by the Local Government Committees and their submission of reports to the State Boundary Committee; the conduct of physical fieldwork to trace the boundary in accordance with available documents or using the principle of ground-to-paper to supplement insufficient relevant documents and joint sensitisation of affected communities preparatory to the fieldwork and agreement on a timeframe for each of the agreed program of activities.”
The director-general appealed to the states to prioritise boundary issues and fund the boundary committees to ensure systematic and timely execution of all planned works, thereby preventing further unnecessary delays.
He also urged relevant border communities to maintain peaceful co-existence and understanding with their neighbors while efforts are made by the commission to expedite actions towards the permanent resolution and physical demarcation of the boundary on the ground for ease of recognition.
Kebbi State deputy governor, represented by a former DG NBC, Surveyor Sodiq Marafa, stated that, “We received a report that the district head of Kawankwaso is attempting to encroach upon Kebbi State by providing his own people with farmland in Kebbi state. Kebbi State is vehemently resisting this issue, leading to heated exchanges.”
Similarly, the Niger State deputy governor, represented by Surveyor General, Idris Aliyu, explained that Kebbi and Niger State cannot intimidate each other over land disputes and emphasized the need to find a lasting solution to the issue.