By Richard Abu
The National Boundary Commission (NBC), today 8th November, 2020, inaugurated a Joint Field Technical Team and flagged-off the Field Verification Exercise on the Benue – Cross River inter-state boundaries in Sankwala, Obanliku LGA.
The exercise comes on the heels of the resolution of the joint meeting of officials of the two states with the National Boundary Commission, held on the 9th of October 2020 in Abuja.
The Joint Technical Committee Committee inaugurated include: the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Surveyor General of Cross River and Benue States, the Deputy Governors of Cross River and Benue states, representatives of the affected local government areas of the two states amongst others.
Declaring the exercise open, the Director General of NBC, Surveyor Adamu Adaji stated that the boundary between the two states was only for administrative purposes and not to stop the interaction between the two states. He further sued for cooperation from indigenes of the two states to achieve a successful verification exercise.
On his part, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State who also doubles as the Chairman of the State Border Committee, his Excellency Prof. Ivara Esu, welcomed the NBC DG and other delegates and his Benue counterpart to the event, stressed the importance of the exercise and reemphasized that the exercise is to demarcate the boundary and not to create a barrier between the two states.
In his words “the boundary between Cross River and Benue is not as complex as we have in other states as pillars are already in place; this exercise is to verify those already existing pillars and plant new ones where they don’t exist”
Similarly, the Deputy Governor of Bunue State/Chairman of Benue State Border Committee, Engr. Benson Abounu thanked the people of the two states for their peaceful coexistence over the years stating that despite the reoccurring skirmishes, his people and that of Cross River State share culture, inter-marry and trade together peacefully.
He further sued for peace and cooperation from the people especially Youth of the two states during the exercise.
In their separate remarks, the traditional rulers of Vandeikya and Obanliku Local Governments thanked the Federal, Cross River and Benue States governments for putting heads together to see to a lasting solution to boundary issues between the two states.
The traditional rulers further assured the technical team of their people’s utmost cooperation during and after the exercise.
The occasion was also graced by the Chairmen of the affected local governments in Cross River State including Hon. Eraye Ewhe of Obudu, Evan. Margaret Inde of Obanliku, Dr. Joe Owan of Bekwarra, Barr. Fabian Ogbeche of Yala and their counterparts from Vandeikya, Kwande, Konshisha and Oju local governments of Benue State.
Also in attendance were the representative of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surveyor Generals of the two States, the Hon. Commissioner for Education Cross River, Dr. Godwin Amanke, the DG Bordercom Cross River State, Mr. Noel Ugbong, the Hon. Commissioner of Boundaries Benue state, Royal fathers from the affected local government areas amongst others.
The exercise is expected run through the 22nd of November, 2020 along the boundary flashpoints between the two states.
