Kogi State governor, Capt. Idris wada has said that his government is prepared to welcome suggestions that can lead to the final resolution of the lingering boundary crisis between Kogi and Anambra States.
Wada stated this last weekend when he received the Director General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and his team, who were in the state for an advocacy visit.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the visit of the advocacy team would have far reaching effects in resolving the boundary dispute between Kogi and Anambra States.
Capt Wada assured that the state will continue to preach peace to its citizens living around the disputed boundaries, noting that Kogi State was ready for the final boundary demarcation of the disputed lines.
The governor said Kogi people have accepted the olive branch of peace, from their Anambra counterparts, saying that the state was prepared to embrace ideas and suggestions that will lead to the boundary demarcation of the disputed boundary.
Capt Wada described the time as most auspicious for the NBC to carry out the demarcation, urging the commission to put a closer look on the boundary issue between Ette community in the state and their counterparts in Enugu State.
The governor equally asked the commission to put in place a mechanism to help resolve the boundary disputes between Kogi and Okpella in Edo State, and those between it and Ondo State.
Capt Idris Wada, who commended the NBC for its interest in resolving boundary issues relating to the state, assured that the state will put in place all necessary mechanism to ensure that the people are well prepared and to allow for a peaceful demarcation exercise ahead of the June 13, 2015 date.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Mohammed Bose Ahmed, Director General of the National Boundary Commission, said they were in the state on an advocacy visit and to meet with stakeholders on the need to give peace a chance in the planned demarcation of the Kogi/Anambra boundary, coming up in the later part of next month.
While maintaining that the commission was concerned with resolving all issues regarding the Kogi/Anambra boundary dispute, he noted that recent boundary demarcation exercise to determine the tripartite point had proved difficult.
The NBC Director General said the need for the advocacy and interactive session with the relevant stakeholders was to prepare their mind ahead the sensitisation exercise that would be carried out simultaneously in the affected communities of Kogi and Anambra, on June 19, before the final exercise to determine the last turning points at Ibaji, which is expected to begin from Idah, sometime this year.
