Posted by By CHRIS IKWUNZE, Port-Harcourt on
The demarcation of inter-state boundaries between Rivers and Bayelsa States would begin on June 30, governments of the two sister states have announced. The exercise which had been postponed twice would be done under the supervision of the National Boundary Commission.
The demarcation of inter-state boundaries between Rivers and Bayelsa States would begin on June 30, governments of the two sister states have announced. The exercise which had been postponed twice would be done under the supervision of the National Boundary Commission.
Already, an initial sum of N36 million had been budgeted by the two states for the exercise which would last 60 days.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt Thursday, the Deputy Governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States, Sir Gabriel Toby and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said the exercise would restore peace and confidence among the border communities that have had clashes in the past.
"We have, in the past, had disputes that have led to clashes between neighbours resulting in loss of life and property. It is in order to enhance good neighbourliness and avoid such needless and lawless acts that the federal government has directed the demarcation of all states boundaries under the aegis of National Boundary Commission", the chairmen of the Boundary Commissions of the two states said.
They said the exercise which would be precceded by an enlightenment campaign between June 13-27, 2005, would be followed by an advocacy team constituted by the two States Surveys-General that would visit all the boundary communities .
The advocacy team would be followed by the team that would record the physical bearings. After these two exercise, both states will move to Abuja to resolve gray areas, the Rivers State Deputy Governor said.
Soliciting for cooperation from the communities that would be affected by the exercise, the deputy governors warned that it would not be in the interest of any community to discrupt the exercise or molest members of the Joint Field Team (JFT) Any persons or groups who take laws into their hands will have themselves to blame, they warned.
The Deputy Governors reminded the communites that the two states have common umbilical cord which state creation, politics or religion could not separate, adding that they have a common destiny which they must pursue jointly.