Kebbi State Government has called on the National Boundary Commission to urgently resolve the problem of border encroachment from neighbouring Niger State that has led to unilateral establishment of farmlands in its own Kaudu and Bakin Ruwa villages of Bagudo Local Government Area.
Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Tafida, made the call in a goodwill message to the workshop for the creation of Nigeria’s platform for local border authorities along the Nigeria-Benin International Boundary. He said the issue requires urgent intervention by the National Boundary Commission, before it escalates into community clashes, between the people of Kaudu Bakin Ruwa in Kebbi State and those of Kwankoso in Niger State.
Tafida who was briefed by the Special Adviser on Border Matters, Surveyor Sadiq Marafa Diggi, implored the speedy resolution of the dispute, to enable the affected Kebbi State farmers to reclaim their land in earnest, for the coming farming season.
The Deputy Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Kebbi State Borders Committee, noted that the creation of a platform for consultation between Nigeria’s local border authorities and their multiple neighbours, will certainly address local border issues, such as trans-border security challenges, conflicts over the location of boundaries, and the development of cross-border economic activities and projects, as well as peaceful co-existence among the border communities.
He commended the National Boundary Commission, and the Nigeria-Benin Boundary Commission for their untiring efforts, in resolving trans-border issues with the Benin Republic neighbours of Kebbi State.
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Tafida re-affirmed Kebbi State Government’s commitment to assist the two commissions, in enhancing better cross-border cordial relationships with the communities.
In his opening remarks, Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Adamu Adaji, said the essence of the platform is to introduce trans-border cordial relationships between communities, as enshrined by the African Union Convention 2012, on Integrated Border Strategy, and the Ecowas Treaty.
He said that with the 770 kilometres of the Nigeria-Benin Republic Border stretching six states from Lagos to Kebbi, communities must take advantage of this bond to establish a trans-border economic corridor, for peaceful co-existence between Nigeria and her neighbours.
The National Boundary Commission Director-General expressed hope that the workshop will translate into action, to be adopted for peace and economic progress in the region.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
