A’Ibom State govt hails FG’s transborder initiative

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State government has praised the Federal Government’s initiative through the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to reduce conflict in the border communities.

The Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, said this during a tour of border communities in the state that led the team to Ibiono Ibom and Obot Akara, on Thursday.

Ekpo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, deputy governor’s office, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said that the initiative was a welcome development that would reduce tension and unnecessary conflict.

According to him, the initiative would offer indigenes of Akwa Ibom and Abia living along the border flashpoints, the hope to go about their normal businesses without any fear of molestation and harm.

He said the federal government would build medical and schools’ facilities within the border communities to encourage communal living by border communities pending when actual demarcation for administrative convenience will take place. 

“Transborder Co-operation initiative, a novel idea evolved by the National Boundary Commission, NBC, to checkmate boarder hostilities and promote inter-border peace and understanding, has received the endorsement of the Akwa Ibom State Government.

“The new initiative will offer opportunity to hitherto warring communities to focus on reconciliatory efforts while the Federal Government will be assisting them in setting up critical life-touching infrastructure at the border communities, even as they await the final demarcation of the borders.

“The initiative, if well implemented, will turn out to be the best strategy in reducing tension and conflicts at our nation’s borders, using the instrumentality of economic empowerment for the mutual benefit of all parties,” Ekpo said.

The deputy governor described the system as a win-win situation for the border communities as it will not only stem the tide of wanton destruction of lives and property but will boost mutual trust and genuine love amongst the border indigenes.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the NBC, Adamu Adaji, represented by the Commission’s Director of Internal Boundaries, Mr Nicholas Emiowele, said that the border communities had nothing to fear about the new development, as the new strategy has been successfully test-run on international boundary cases without failure.

He disclosed that the latest effort by the Commission was a direct mandate by the federal government to ensure the maintenance of peace as well as ensure zero conflict rate at all internal borders of the nation.

Adaji said that following the huge success rate of the strategy at the international level, the Commission decided to test-run it first in Akwa Ibom since the state remains the best in cross-border conflict management. 

The Chairman of Ibiono Ibom LGA, Mr Ekopimo Edet, commended the state and the federal government for always collaborating to ensure peace and understanding along border communities.