The Deputy Governor of Kogi State and Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, Comrade Joel Salifu, has advocated for a peaceful resolutions of the lingering boundary disputes between Kogi State and Edo State.
Comrade Salifu made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Edo/Kogi Interstate Boundary Committee.
A statement by Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Unubi Emmanuel, noted that the meeting, which had the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Dr. Dennis Idahosa and the Edo State delegation, was convened by the National Boundary Commission as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the definition and final demarcation of the boundary between the two states.
In his remarks, the deputy governor commended the commission for organising the meeting at a critical time, noting that although the boundary has witnessed disputes in the past, both Edo and Kogi states are now committed to resolving all outstanding issues peacefully.
He explained that earlier attempts to demarcate the boundary were stalled due to unresolved issues and lack of proper sensitisation of border communities, stressing the need to revisit grey areas to gain local cooperation.
Comrade Joel Salifu identified key areas of concern, including the Ogori/Ekpedo and Okene/Okpella sectors, as well as Ake Island, and called on the Commission to urgently address emerging tensions in some border communities like Ibaji communities in Kogi State and Uloshi community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State over farmland ownership.
He called for the establishment of an inclusive demarcation team involving traditional institutions and other stakeholders, while appealing to the commission to allow the two states to set up committees to sensitise their people, ensuring the boundary delimitation exercise is peaceful.
“Kogi State’s participation shows the government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s continued commitment to peaceful resolution of boundary matters, strengthened inter-state cooperation, and support for federal initiatives aimed at giving clarity, peace and stability along state boundaries,” he said.