Abia, Anambra Resolve 15km of Boundary Dispute, Push for Agreement on Remaining Stretch

By Iyojo Ameh

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has announced a major breakthrough in the resolution of the boundary dispute between Abia State and Anambra State, with both states reaching agreement on 15 kilometres of their shared boundary while intensifying discussions on the remaining eight-kilometre stretch.

The progress was recorded at the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Abia/Anambra Interstate Boundary held on Thursday in Awka.

Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu A. Adaji, said about 15 kilometres of the 23-kilometre interstate boundary had been jointly traced and provisionally demarcated, leaving only an eight-kilometre section requiring further negotiations.

He said the meeting considered recommendations from the Technical Meeting of Experts held on July 1, aimed at finding practical and mutually acceptable solutions to the unresolved portion of the boundary.

Adaji praised the governments of both states for embracing dialogue and due process in addressing the long-standing dispute, describing their cooperation as critical to achieving lasting peace.

He assured that the Commission would continue to provide the technical, administrative and institutional support needed to conclude the exercise.

Representing the Deputy Governor of Abia State and Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, Ikechukwu Emetu, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Chijioke Nwankwo, welcomed the agreement reached on the 15-kilometre section and urged that boundary monuments be erected without delay.

He insisted that the remaining eight-kilometre corridor should be resolved strictly in accordance with the National Boundary Commission’s procedures, historical records, technical field evidence and relevant court judgments.

Nwankwo also argued that state-produced maps should not determine interstate boundaries, maintaining that Supreme Court judgments and other legally recognised instruments should guide the final resolution.

On behalf of the Anambra State Government, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Boundary Matters, Ekenechukwu Okoye, represented Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to resolving the dispute through peaceful dialogue, constitutional provisions and the rule of law.

He stressed that the interests of communities along the boundary should remain paramount and expressed confidence that the collaboration between both state governments, technical experts and the National Boundary Commission would lead to a fair and lasting settlement.

A communiqué issued after the meeting stated that both Abia and Anambra governments remained committed to completing the demarcation of their common boundary and had requested the National Boundary Commission to expedite the process.

The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and both state governments to achieve a peaceful, lawful and permanent resolution of the interstate boundary dispute.