The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has renewed its commitment to resolving the long-standing boundary dispute between Eda-Oniyo in Ekiti State and Obbo-Aiyegunle in Kwara State, with both states agreeing to begin the physical demarcation of the boundary without further delay.
Speaking at the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Ekiti–Kwara Interstate Boundary held in Ado Ekiti, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Mr. Adamu Adaji, urged the governments of Ekiti and Kwara states to submit their recommendations to enable the Commission reach a permanent resolution to the lingering dispute.
Adaji assured stakeholders that the boundary stretching from the Eda-Oniyo and Obbo-Aiyegunle axis to the Erinmope and Odo-Owa corridor would be properly demarcated to prevent future land disputes and promote lasting peace in the affected communities.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, both states resolved to commence the monumentation of the interstate boundary immediately and agreed to submit all relevant documents to the Commission within 30 days to facilitate the exercise.
The NBC Director-General explained that the Commission would carefully examine all technical issues, historical records and ambiguities surrounding the features used by the colonial administration in delineating the 70-kilometre interstate boundary before arriving at a final decision.
The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Monisade Afuye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr. Adeleke Adefolaju, commended the Federal Government and the National Boundary Commission for intervening in the lingering dispute, describing the initiative as a significant step towards reducing tension and preventing conflict between the affected communities.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi, represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Ayantola Malomo, urged the Commission not to rely solely on colonial records but to also consider other credible archival documents with evidential value to ensure a fair and lasting resolution of the dispute.
