A’Ibom govt blames continuous border clashes on unemployment

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has said that the lingering cases of communal clashes in border communities are due to unemployment.

Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo said while addressing select journalists in Uyo on Thursday, that the border community who worked together in the past never contemplated war or clashes.

Ekpo recalled that when the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) situated by the Federal Government in Oku Iboku, Itu local government area of the state, was functional, indigenes of border communities worked together in the company without fighting.

He said that the then NNMC served the warring communities from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, and there was no rancour between them.

He however stated that immediately after the company collapsed, hostilities started in the area, forcing many residents to flee from the place.

“When Oku Iboku paper mill was there, we never had any conflict between neighbouring communities there. But as soon as the paper mill collapsed, communities around there were at war with each other.

“If the paper mill was still functioning, we wouldn’t have the communal conflicts there because many youths would have engaged themselves in meaningful jobs to help them instead of fighting,” he stated.

The Deputy Governor frowned at the Federal Government’s delay in implementing the trans-border initiative created by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), saying it has hindered the peace process among conflicting communities across the country.

He stated that though the trans-border initiative was a lofty idea, the delayed implementation was frustrating peace deals in warring areas, especially border communities.

He noted that the state government was still waiting on the Federal Government to kick start the transborder cooperation, which he affirms will checkmate border hostilities, and promote inter-border peace and understanding.

He applauded the National Emergency Relief Management Agency (NEMA) for assisting the state government with relief materials to border crisis victims, communities and disaster areas in the state.