Abia Deputy Governor Cautions Against Boundary Dispute

Abia State deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, has said boundary dispute is detrimental to peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.

Emetu stated this at a meeting yesterday with ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and stakeholders involved in boundary matters in his office in Umuahia, the state capital.

According to him, the meeting had become necessary as the farming season has begun to avoid both internal and external boundary disputes and its attendant consequences.

The chairman of the state’s boundary committee said: “Boundary dispute or conflict creates unpleasant consequences such as destruction of life and property, farmland and displacement of people from their homes.”

He wondered why the National Boundary Commission had not been able to muster courage to settle lingering boundary issues between the state and its neighbours once and for all.

Appealing to them to find solution to the delay, he stressed that there should be synergy among them in handling of the disputes.

In their response, the permanent secretary, Bureau of Politics, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Franklin Onyema and the state surveyor-general, Anthony Onye deplored the development.

They blamed the failure in handling the internal disputes on logistics and lack of operational vehicles among others and appealed for the support of the government to succeed.