Gombe, Yobe govts. restate commitment to peaceful co-existence along border communities
Boundary
By Uwumarogie Peter
Gombe, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The governments of Gombe and Yobe states have restated their commitment toharmonious and peaceful co-existence along their border communities.
They expressed their commitment in a communique jointly signed by the two states at the end of a meeting of Gombe/Yobe interstate boundary officials held in Gombe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was convened by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to receive and discuss the report of additional fieldwork in the Fika/Nafada interstate boundary issue.
NAN reports that the two states share boundaries between Nafada (Gombe) and Fika (Yobe) towns.
The meeting, chaired by Dr. Mohammed Ahmad, Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), had Mr Charles Iliya and Mr Abubakar Aliyu, Deputy Governors of Gombe and Yobe states respectively in attendance.
While presenting the report, Ahmad urged the people of both states to live in peace and also told officials of respective governments to take the message to the grassroots.
He commended them for the success of their various meetings since January 2018, and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of their oneness to resolve outstanding grey areas on the boundary issue.
Iliya, who is also the Chairman, Gombe State Boundary Committee, noted that both states share common history and culture, adding that the good relationship must be sustained.
He appealed to participants to look at the issues raised dispassionately, so as to cement the existing good relationship between the states.
Also speaking, the Yobe Deputy Governor, commended the efforts of the NBC and stressed the need for the states to sensitise their border communities on the need to live in peace.
Represented by Alhaji Baba Muhammad, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, the Deputy Governor said that Gombe and Yobe states share a cordial relationship.
“There is need to properly define the boundary of these border communities. The peaceful atmosphere witnessed today in the course of the deliberations show that we are brothers.
“The action of today will go a long way in addressing the crisis between these communities that have existed for over 100 years.”
The officials, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure the physical demarcation of the boundary on by the first quarter of 2019.
NAN reports that in attendance were Mr. Ebisintei Awudu, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, representatives of Nafada and Fika Local Government Areas and traditional rulers from both border communities. (NAN)
UP/JTJ/NKO
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Nkechi Okoronkwo