Ministry Moves To Resolve Boundary Dispute

The Minister of State for
FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated the FCT Boundary Field Team aimed at resolving boundary problems with neighbouring states.
Akinjide, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Obinna Chukwu, said that the team would meet with counterparts from Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and Kogi states to implement the resolutions of the joint stakeholders meeting.
It would be  recalled that the FCT Administration had on June 25, 2013 organised a joint stakeholders meeting with contiguous states where boundary issues were identified and discussed.
During that meeting, stakeholders agreed to resolve all boundary issues affecting the territory and the states.
The minister therefore said: “I am indeed glad that for the first time, remarkable achievement is being made on boundary issues in the FCT.
“It has become imperative to constitute a boundary field team for FCT to sustain the progress recorded.’’
Akinjide urged the team to be committed in carrying out its assignment, adding that “the administration placed high premium on this particular assignment.’’
She gave the terms of reference of the committee to include, ensuring adequate enlightenment campaign at the border communities, liaise with field teams of the four neighbouring states and ensuring all identified disputed areas were properly demarcated.
Other terms include, to trace and physically identify major and intermediate pillars that define different sectors of the FCT boundaries and to identify ownership and structures situated along the boundary lines.
Responding, the leader of the team, Mr Abiodun Alonge, thanked the minister for the confidence reposed in the team.
He said, “we are grateful for the trust and the challenges you have on us to carry out this great assignment.’’
Alonge added that the team would work with the terms of reference given it to ensure that boundary disputes become a thing of the past in the FCT and its neighbouring states.
He appealed for the support of the minister to enable the team to accomplish the assignment.