Abia, Anambra Border Demarcation Ends December

The Joint Field Team (JFT) handling the demarcation of Abia/Anambra interstate boundary has been given December 7, 2009 deadline to complete the field tracing of the remaining eight-kilometre portion of the 23 kilometre boundary between the two states.

The JFT was directed back to the field after a joint meeting of the Interstate Boundary Committees of both states in Umuahia where the federal government pledged to provide social amenities for the border communities in the two states when the boundary dispute is permanently resolved.

The two-day meeting which also dealt with Abia/Imo boundary matters, was convened by National Boundary Commission (NBC) whose Director-General, Surveyor S.M. Diggi, was represented by the Director of Interstate boundaries, Surveyor Sani Isa. Also, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Comrade Chris Akomas who is the chairman of Abia state Boundary committee, led Abia delegates to the meeting while his Anambra State counterpart, Dame Virgy Etiaba, led the Anambra team.

In his presentation, the NBC boss reported that the Abia / Anambra boundary spans about 23 kilo metres. He said field tracing has been carried out in about 15 kilo metres, with eght km remaining. Diggi listed the remaining portions as Umuchukwu (Anambra) and Ezioba (Abia); Ihe, Owere-Ezukala (Anambra) and Ezioba (Abia) and Owere-Ezukala (Anambra) and Umuaku (Abia).

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and jointly signed by Akomas, Etiaba and Diggi, noted that both states have expressed concerns over the delay in the completion of the boundary demarcation efforts, adding that they were desirous of a permanent resolution of the contentious border portions.

The meeting therefore, resolved that the JFT should resume the border demarcation on November 16; complete and submit its report on or before December 7, 2009.

The NBC directed both governments to ensure adequate enlightenment and sensitization of the affected communities before and during the demarcation exercise, while assuring that it would not be distracted by undue skirmishes in completing the border tracing.

The commission further assured that it would provide social amenities to the boundary communities once the exercise was completed.

In his remarks, Akomas pointed out that no community in the South East has benefited from the NBC budget for peaceful communities and pledged that Abia was ready for a permanent resolution of its border matters with Anambra.

His Anambra counterpart, Etiaba, also assured of the readiness of her state to end the border issue once and for all. She blamed border skirmishes between Abia and Anambra on greed and selfishness on the part of some community leaders who feed fat on such crises. Akomas and Etiaba were agreed that Abia and Anambra were sister states.