The federal government has restated its commitment to demarcate the boundaries between the FCT and four neighbouring states.

Adamu Adaji, the National Boundary Commission (NBC) director-general, said the Internal Boundary Committee of the commission, chaired by works minister Babatunde Fashola, had met with the concerned states and okayed the process to begin.

He added that the demarcation of the boundary was necessary to avoid conflict.

“We met on Monday, and the FCT minister said he was in touch with the governors concerned and that they pledged their support for the exercise. The FCT is bordered by Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Kogi,” explained Mr Adaji. 

The commission said it had “some uncertainties” about the correct boundary alignment because the gaps between the pillars to define the “corner points boundary are far apart.”

In some cases, said NBC, pillars were just 80km apart. 

“So we agreed that there is a need to put more pillars,” noted the NBC director-general.

Mr Adaji explained that the commission had gone far with other inter-state boundary issues across the country. He said the commission had completed the tracing exercise for some states, and the demarcation process will begin soon.

“Be rest assured that the commission is making progress, and with the commitment of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, we will do much more,” stated Mr Adaji. “The commission has fared better in terms of funding from the federal government and cooperation from the states.”

He pledged that “very soon” the government would properly define those boundaries.

“Also, a boundary cannot serve its purpose until it is properly recognised on the ground, and for you to do that, you must have markers on the ground for people to know,” stressed the NBC director-general. “Also note that boundaries are not barriers or made to cause division of families and properties, it is just for administrative convenience.” 

(NAN)