By: Oriola Afolabi
The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has reaffirmed its commitment to finding a lasting solution to the long-standing boundary dispute between Eda-Oniyo in Ekiti State and Obbo-Aiyegunle in Kwara State.
Speaking at the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Ekiti–Kwara Interstate Boundary held in Ado Ekiti, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, urged both state governments to submit their recommendations to enable the Commission reach a permanent resolution to the protracted crisis.
Mr Adaji assured stakeholders that the border areas between the two communities, extending to the Erinmope and Odo-Owa axis, would be properly demarcated to prevent future land disputes capable of threatening peace in the area.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated that both states agreed to commence the monumentation of the interstate boundary without further delay.
They also resolved to submit all relevant documents within 30 days to facilitate the process.
The NBC Director-General explained that all technical issues, historical records and ambiguities surrounding the features used by the colonial administration in demarcating the 70-kilometre boundary would be carefully examined in arriving at a lasting solution.
The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Monisade Afuye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Adeleke Adefolaju, commended the Federal Government and the National Boundary Commission for intervening in the lingering dispute.
She described the initiative as a welcome step towards easing tensions and preventing possible conflict between the affected communities.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Kayode Alabi, represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Ayantola Malomo, urged the Commission not to rely solely on colonial records and called for the consideration of other credible archival documents with evidential value in resolving the dispute.
