By NAN
The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has called on the Benue and Taraba Governments to put their differences aside, accept resolutions reached and ensure effective implementation of boundary related agreements to logical conclusion.
Surveyor Adamu Adaji, the Director-General of NBC made the call in his address at the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Benue/Taraba Interstate Boundary on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adaji said the Commission was not in doubt that Benue and Taraba shared so much in common.
He added that what may be surprise and sad was the fact that the differences in the perception of the boundary has tended to cause bad blood among the people.
“We have been reminded of the history and developments as well as the numerous interventions of the states and federal governments on the boundary over and over.
“The question on the minds of the stakeholders is when will the dispute be resolved?.
“People would be wondering if the outcome of today’s engagement be any different from past engagements when decisions taken were not implemented to logical conclusion.
“I want to urge us to discuss all issues dispassionately with the sole aim of bringing lasting peace to our people.
“Our Technical Experts made useful recommendations on what we need to do to achieve our goal of a demarcated Benue/Taraba interstate boundary. I will appeal that we accept the recommendations and implement them appropriately,” ‘Adaji said.
The NBC DG stressed that boundaries are demarcated for administrative conveyance and not barriers to economic. social or family relationships.
Adaji said the last time the two states met was in December, 2019, adding that after that, much progress was not made.
“However, the Commission is committed, determined and focused to make progress. Today’s meeting will build on the gains of the last meeting in 2019”.
Speaking, the Deputy governor of Benue, Mr Benson Abounu said several meetings were held on Benue and Taraba Boundary Crisis in Abuja , Makurdi, Jalingo and many places.
“So the question to ask is have we really achieve much? on paper? Yes because, we have all kinds of resolutions, but have we practically achieve much? the answer is no.
“This is as a result of disagreements between the people at boundary corridors in Benue and Taraba, even when it look so much of a common sense to agree, so that we can move forward.
“My major concern is that, please let us make progress; all these places where there are issues, let us forget about them and let us go ahead and do the demarcation,” Abounu stressed.
Similarly, the Deputy Governor of Taraba, Mr Haruna Manu said there was the absolute need to make progress in resolving the boundary issues between Taraba and Benue.
“We totally agree to the 1923 and 1924 demarcation. all we need to do in this meeting is to allow NBC to go and continue the demarcation.
“Also, we need to sensitise our people at the border communities to cooperate with NBC in carrying out their constitutional duties.
“We need to agree on boundary line and move forward, because we have been having meetings all the time and no remarkable progress. We may not be encourage to come for meeting again, if we do not make progress, Manu said.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the joint meeting attracted officials from the NBC, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Local Government Chairmen from Benue and Taraba, traditional rulers from the two states and other relevant stakeholders. (NAN)