Bayelsa State Government has called on the National Boundary Commission, (NBC) to expedite action on the resolution of boundary dispute between Bayelsa and Rivers States to enhance peaceful co-existence between them.
The State’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call while declaring open a town hall meeting and ethnographic study with respect to the communities along Bayelsa and Delta inter-state boundary in Yenagoa.
According to him, peace will be elusive if the Commission does not first of all address issues of equity, justice and fairness in resolving boundary conflicts.
He said while it was commendable for the Commission to seek peaceful resolution of the impacted communities of Bayelsa and Delta States, it should rather focus on addressing the age-long boundary dispute between the two sister states of Bayelsa and Rivers.
The Deputy Governor, who is the Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, underscored the need for all parties to come together to dialogue in resolving their differences, noting that without equity there can be no peace and development.
“The issue of boundary dispute that is stinging us the most is between Bayelsa and Rivers states. I want the National Boundary Commission to fast-track the resolution of that boundary dispute.
“We don’t see much that is stinging us in the impacted communities between Bayelsa and Delta States. If there is no equity, there will be no peace. I have always enjoined the NBC to ensure equity in the resolution of boundary conflicts.
“We must bring all who have a role to play in the meeting; traditional rulers, community development chairmen, youths, women and other stakeholders towards proffering solutions and ensuring lasting peaceful and harmonious co-existence”, he said.
In his remarks, member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Hon. Fred Agbedi, appealed to all boundary communities between Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area and Okia in Delta State to continually maintain peace and bring to the attention of government all issues affecting them.
In his address, Director General of the National Boundary Commission, represented by Mr. Femi Oshinaike, a Director in the Commission, said the town hall meeting was organized to inform residents of contesting communities along the Bayelsa and Delta inter-state boundary about the boundary definition process.
Oshinaike noted that the meeting was to provide them with the opportunity to air their opinions in order to reach a consensus before the physical demarcation exercise takes place.
While speaking with newsmen on the boundary dispute between Bayelsa and Rivers States, Mr Oshinaike explained that the Commission was doing everything to ensure equity in the demarcation of the boundary between the two states.
Also in his address, Senior Research Officer, Mr Balogun Samson gave an overview of the current situation between Bayelsa and Delta State boundaries.
He said the recent crisis between neighboring communities of Agge in Bayelsa and Okia in Delta necessitated the intervention by the Commission to bring stakeholders together to resolve their issues amicably.
In his contribution, Consultant in the Commission, Mr Abdulfatia Adediran, noted that dialogue remains the best option in addressing contending cross border issues between communities and states to make for even development.
Also speaking, the Head of Administration, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mr Duyin Peter, thanked the State goveyrnment and the Commission for their efforts at ensuring peaceful resolution of the proximate communities, promising to support the process in achieving peace.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa