Abuja: The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has ramped up its efforts to address the prolonged Ekiti-Kwara boundary dispute, aiming to curb ongoing communal clashes and establish enduring peace in the region. This decision comes following a Joint Meeting of Officials on the Ekiti-Kwara interstate boundary held in Ado-Ekiti.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the resolutions were conveyed in a statement issued in Abuja by Mrs. Chinwe Udouwem, the commission’s Head of Information, Press and Public Relations. During the meeting, NBC Director-General Mr. Adamu Adaji highlighted the event as a significant milestone in resolving the longstanding boundary issues. Adaji emphasized the commission’s determination to finalize the definition of the 70-kilometre boundary, originally inherited from the former Ondo-Kwara interstate boundary.
The boundary, Adaji explained, is grounded in Legal Notice No. 126 of 1954, which delineated part of the boundary between the former Northern and Southern Nigeria. The commission’s intervention is driven by the recurring communal clashes in the border communities, which have led to the loss of lives, property destruction, displacement of residents, and sustained tension.
Adaji reiterated the NBC’s commitment to its constitutional duty of peacefully defining interstate boundaries and fostering harmonious relations among neighboring communities. He stated that the commission’s goals extend beyond boundary demarcation to reinforcing national unity, enhancing security, and creating conditions conducive to sustainable socio-economic growth.
Despite significant progress, Adaji pointed out that two critical sectors remain unresolved: the Eda-Oniyo (Ekiti)-Obbo/Aiyegunle (Kwara) axis and the Erinmope (Ekiti)-Imoji, Ilofa, and Odo-Owa (Kwara) corridor. He noted that since 2002, the commission has organized multiple Joint Meetings of Officials and established Joint Field Teams. Additionally, extensive field tracing has been conducted using Legal Notice No. 126 of 1954, historical records, authenticated maps, and relevant court judgments.
In a recent technical meeting held in Abuja in August 2024, it was resolved that digitized boundary maps would be shared with both states for review, consultation, and harmonization before the final demarcation exercise. However, Adaji expressed concern over the lack of harmonized reports from both states, which has delayed the final phase of the boundary definition process.
Adaji urged the Ekiti and Kwara governments to continue providing their State Boundary Committees with the necessary logistics and resources. He also appealed to the affected communities to remain peaceful and refrain from actions that could undermine the ongoing process.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the deputy governors of Ekiti and Kwara states. The Ekiti Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, was represented by Mr. Adeleke Adefolaju, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, while the Kwara Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, was represented by Mr. Ayontola Malomo. The representatives affirmed their governments’ dedication to achieving a peaceful, lawful, and mutually agreeable resolution to the remaining boundary issues. They praised the commission for maintaining dialogue and establishing an effective framework for resolving the dispute, pledging continued cooperation with the commission and urging community support for the ongoing boundary definition exercise.