Concerned by the lingering border and boundary issues with attendant negative effect on border and boundary communities the Chairman and members of the Senate committee on states and local government administration has organised a two-day interactive workshop on engaging states, local governments and border community stakeholders to discuss the security and socio-economic management of Nigeria borders.
The meeting convened at Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja had participants from across the country who brainstormed on challenges affecting the border communities with a view to proffering a lasting solution to the perennial issues of sharp misunderstanding amongst communities which often lead to destruction of lives and properties.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Jack Tasha, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, (Deputy Governor’s office), which was obtained by PERISCOPE NIGERIA on Monday.
The Gombe State Deputy Governor of Gombe State Dr Manassah Jatau, who led the state delegates, was quoted to have said, “it is quite lamentable that even states that were created before Gombe have had unresolved boundary issues. Gombe State was created in 1996 and till date its boundaries are not clearly demarcated. For instance, between the state and the neighbouring Bauchi state we have lost nine souls in serious misunderstandings.”
Jatau added, “I call on my brother and neighbour, the Chairman, senate committee on states and local government administration, Distinguished Senator Binus Dauda Yaroe to ensure that efforts are made towards demarcating the boundaries in order to forestall ugly incidences of blood birth and destruction of property.
“Now that government is looking at discoveries on mineral resources the boundaries should be better demarcated before more discoveries are made so that boundary related issues are not compounded and forestaled by the discoveries.”
On his part, Chairman, Senate committee on states and local government administration, Binus Yaroe, welcomed the participants to the stakeholder engagement towards addressing issues impeding development of border and boundary communities across the country.
He said the interface involves the national assembly, state and local government as well as border and boundary communities stakeholders specifically on security and socio-economic management of Nigeria borders.
The Gombe delegation include the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Hon, Barr. Zubairu Mohammed Umar, and is Local Government counterpart, Alh. Abdulkadir Waziri, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for local Government, Mr Dantata Mohammed Ndus, Director, Security and Political Affairs, Government House, Bala Sarki, and all Local Government Chairmen and their Secretaries.
