Akpan Umoh
The Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, has called for a review of Land Use Decree to arrest the lingering boundary crisis across the country.
Ekpo blamed the promulgation of the decree as the bane of all boundary crises and asked for a total review of the decree by the National Assembly.
He said this during the Joint Sensitisation and Enlightenment campaign visit of officials of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to the border communities of Akwa Ibom/Abia interstate boundary in Ika Local Government Area.
According to him, the decree amounted to an administrative error as it was wrong for people to stay in faraway places and demarcate areas, they had no idea about, even without considering the consequences of such action on the relationship of the people living in such areas.
The deputy governor said that drawing boundary lines to create a bridge between siblings was not in any way promoting a peaceful coexistence between warring communities.
Ekpo appealed for peace to be maintained until final boundary tracing and demarcation is concluded by NBC.
The deputy governor advised against further eruption of crisis in the area which could lead to loss of lives.
He said: “Don’t let a piece of land lead to taking the life of any person because it is not worth it.”
He appealed to the NBC and the Nigerian Army to dismantle any visage of identification supporting ownership claims by both parties to ensure peace while carrying on the process of boundary determination.
In his remarks, the deputy governor of Abia, Mr Ude Chukwu attributed most of the boundary crisis across the country to criminality by undesirable elements.
Chukwu called on security operatives to arrest and prosecute such perpetrators.
He also called for a mob up of arms from those who are not licenced to carry arms to curb crisis in the communities.
He commended his counterpart in Akwa Ibom for his efforts at ensuring a peaceful resolution of the boundary crisis.
He appealed to the communities to exercise patience and allow the National Boundary Commission to do the needful.
The Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Mr Adamu Adaji said that NBC was in the state to broker peace between the two communities.
He commended the efforts of the two states in maintaining peace at their common borders.
“We are here on a peace mission to preach peace and for you to embrace peace as all Nigerians are free to live anywhere in the country.
“The causes of crisis are due to non-determination and demarcation of boundaries between the two states and both parties desire that boundaries be properly determined,” he said.
He called on the youth leaders from both communities to embrace peace, stressing that there was need for Peace and Security Committees to be established in both states with membership drawn from relevant agencies.