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Tag: National Boundary Commission

  • NBC DG reaffirms mandate, charges staff to renew dedication in New Year Message

    NBC DG reaffirms mandate, charges staff to renew dedication in New Year Message

    On Thursday, Adamu Adaji, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), reaffirmed the agency’s steadfast dedication to fostering peaceful coexistence and promoting trans-border cooperation across Nigeria’s internal and international borders.

    This was conveyed by Efe Ovuakporie, the Head, Information and Public Relations Unit to staff members, Border Communities and Nigerians.

    Reflecting on the progress made in 2024, Adaji outlined that the vision for 2025 will be rooted in enhanced collaboration, innovation, and service delivery.

    Adaji said, “The National Boundary Commission’s core mandate is the definition and demarcation of Nigeria’s international and internal boundaries and the amicable resolution of disputes where they exist.

    “This vital role underpins our collective efforts to safeguard national unity, strengthen intergovernmental relations, and promote socio-economic development.”

    He noted that the past year witnessed remarkable strides towards achieving these objectives, with the support of the Federal Government, the dedication of the staff of the Commission, and the cooperation of other stakeholders.

    Adaji then urged the workforce to redouble efforts in the new year, highlighting that professionalism and devotion are key to establishing the envisaged successes.

    “As we face new challenges and opportunities in 2025, I urge you to approach your duties with renewed determination and a steadfast belief in our shared vision,” he said.

    Addressing the general public, Adaji assured the Commission of continued partnership. “He stressed that the Commission understands the complexities of boundary management and will remain committed to fostering dialogue, mitigating conflicts, and ensuring transparency in all its processes”.

    He emphasized that “together, we will continue to work towards peaceful borders and enhanced security for all Nigerians.

    “It is in this regard that the Commission will collaborate with the States to conduct induction trainings for key member of States and Local Government Boundary Committees early in the year”.

    The Director-General highlighted ongoing projects, including resolving lingering boundary disputes, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and enhancing public awareness of the Commission’s work.

    These initiatives, he disclosed align with NBC’s vision to build trust, deepen collaboration, and fulfil its promises to the Nigerian people.

    He further thanked stakeholders and other partner agencies for their cooperation and contributions to the Commission’s mandate. He reaffirmed NBC’s resolve to deliver results while upholding the principles of fairness, equity, and accountability.

    “As we step into 2025, we remain poised to deliver on our promises. Our commitment to fostering peace, unity, and sustainable development is stronger than ever. Together, we will build a legacy of progress and cooperation that future generations can be proud of,” Adaji concluded.

     

  • NBC seeks support to demarcate Cross River/Ebonyi interstate boundary

    NBC seeks support to demarcate Cross River/Ebonyi interstate boundary

    The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has urged relevant stakeholders in Cross River and Ebonyi to support ongoing efforts toward the demarcation of the interstate boundary.

    The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, made the call in Abuja on Monday, at a joint meeting of officials of both states to address the lingering interstate boundary dispute.

    Adaji explained that the meeting was convened to review the status of the boundary and discuss the way forward towards definition and delimitation of the boundary.

    He said that the interstate boundary dispute between the states dates back several years ago.

    He added that misunderstanding and crisis engulfs the border communities from time to time due to the land dispute and indigene settler dichotomy.

    He blamed the persistent crises on the non-determination and demarcation of the interstate boundary, describing it as one of the volatile interstate boundaries in Nigeria with high risk of threat to peace.

    “The crisis on the boundary necessitated the interventions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice Mr Atiku Abubakar at different times.

    “The Federal Government was also compelled to draft military personnel to the sectors of the boundary in 2005 to maintain peace.

    “The commission’s efforts over the years, had been to re-establish the boundary in accordance with available documents.

    “These efforts resulted in the tracing and provisional demarcation of the boundary by a Joint Field Team (JFT) on the boundary between 2000 and 2004,” he said.

    The DG said that the fieldwork produced two claim lines representing the positions of the states, adding that the NBC reviewed the states’ claim lines and proposed a boundary line but was rejected by both states.

    He added that while Ebonyi accepted a segment of the proposed line, Cross River insisted that the boundary line must be in line with her claim.

    He, however, said that the commission and the states’ subsequent efforts focused mainly on the restoration of peace to the warring communities of both states.

    “Accordingly, the joint meetings of officials held in 2010, 2011 and 2013 resolved that peace committees be constituted at different levels to ensure the return of peace to the affected communities.

    “This was to pave the way for further actions on the boundary, but sadly, the committees never functioned.

    “The former Vice-President and Chairman of the National Boundary Commission, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also intervened in February 2017 when he met with the Governors of the two States.

    “Unfortunately, the scheduled follow-up activities could not be implemented due to non-cooperation of the two States.

    “In the wake of the unfortunate Ukelle/Izzi crisis of June 2018, the National Boundary Commission and the two states took prompt action by visiting the communities affected and agreed on actions to be taken,” he said.

    Adaji further said that the governors of the two states met in 2018, adding that a Joint Technical Committee of Experts equally met and resolved to pave the way for the return of peace to the affected communities.

    “It is on this note that I welcome you once more to the meeting and appeal that we focus on the imperative of peace among the people.

    “I urge us all to discuss all the issues with every sense of commitment to supporting the commission’s effort towards the demarcation of the boundary,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Peter Odey, Deputy Governor of Cross River, and Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, acknowledged the impasse on the boundary dispute between the states.

    Odey expressed the readiness of the state to support ongoing efforts to bring the lingering dispute to a logical conclusion.

    Similarly, Mrs Patricia Obila, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, and Chairperson of the state Boundary Committee, commended NBC for the efforts to address the dispute.

    Obila pledged the support of the Ebonyi government towards putting an end to the fracas among the states’ neighbouring communities.

  • National Boundary Commission dispels reports of Nigeria, Cameroon ceding territories to create new country

    National Boundary Commission dispels reports of Nigeria, Cameroon ceding territories to create new country

    The National Boundary Commission (NBC) on Monday refuted a report making the rounds in the social media on a purported United Nations (UN) arrangement, insinuating Nigeria will cede 24 councils from among some of her States to be merged with other territories in the Republic of Cameroon to form a new state

    The commission made the refutal while interacting with newsmen in Abuja, said the report is mischievous and capable of causing panics in the minds of right-thinking Nigerians

    Read the full statement from National Boundary Commission (NBC)

    “The attention of the National Boundary Commission has been drawn to the news making rounds in the media especially in the social media that based on a purported United Nations (UN) arrangement, Nigeria will cede 24 councils from among some of her States to be merged with other territories in the Republic of Cameroon to form a new state to be known as Ambazonia or UNO State.

    The Report is false and there is no iota of truth. It is very misleading, mischievous and capable of causing panics in the minds of right-thinking Nigerians; the National Boundary Commission wishes to make it categorically clear and in unambiguous terms state that there is no truth whatsoever in the report and that there is no arrangement among Cameroon, Nigeria and the United Nations to form any new state from the territories of Nigeria and Cameroon.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had made its territorial boundaries as defined by the delimitation instruments as at the time of independence sacrosanct and not amenable to any form of modification, alteration or adjustment as it is meant to exist as one indivisible nation.

    As an update on the Cameroon-Nigeria international Boundary, it can be recalled that the boundary dispute, which culminated into the arbitration by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), was settled with the judgment on 10th October 2002. The boundary dispute that was originally largely on the sovereignty over Bakassi Peninsula was decided with respect to the entire length of the over 2000Km stretch from the Lake Chad Region in the North to the Bakassi Peninsula in the South and a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea.

    To implement the judgment of the ICJ, Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the UN met with the President of Cameroon, H.E. Paul Biya and former President of Nigeria, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo in November, 2002 and worked out modalities on the best ways to achieve the desired result. One of the decisions was to constitute the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) to drive the process. The Mixed Commission had its maiden meeting in Yaoude, Cameroon in December, 2002 during which programme of activities including constitution of Sub-Commissions to implement each of the activities were constituted.

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of Mission, United National Office of West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) heads the CNMC. Nigeria and Cameroon each have six (6) representatives as members of the CNMC. Presently, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN leads Nigeria’s contingent to the CNMC.

    The CNMC is expected to amongst others protect the rights of the affected populations and demarcate and delineate the Land and Maritime boundary respectively between the two countries in accordance with the ICJ judgment,

    To ease its work, the CNMC established Sub-Commissions to handle the various facets of its assignments as follows:-

    SUB-COMMISSION ON AFFECTED POPULATIONS {SCAP}
    WORKING GROUP ON WITHDRAWAL OF CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN THE LAKE CHAD
    SUB-COMMISSION ON DEMARCATION {SCD}
    In addition to the Sub-Commissions, other Committees established included:
    THE JOINT TECHNICAL TEAM {JTT}
    WORKING GROUP ON MARITIME BOUNDARY
    MIXED COMMISSION OBSERVER GROUP TO LAKE CHAD AREAAND BAKASSI

    All the various Sub-Commissions and various Committees have since completed their assignments except the Sub-Commission on demarcation.
    As an update, the Sub-Commission on demarcation has constructed a total of 1,344 International Boundary Pillars along the Nigeria-Cameroon boundary between 2009 to date. There are approximately 1,354 remaining pillars to be built.

    As it is presently, Their Excellencies, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of Cameroon have approved and remitted sum of $6million to the Trust Fund Account on the Nigeria-Cameroon Boundary Demarcation exercise domiciled with the UN Headquarters in New York to further support the continuation of the demarcation exercise. The United Nations Procurement Department is on the verge of awarding contract on Lot 5 for the construction of additional 355 pillars along the Gotel Mountains of the Nigeria-Cameroon International Boundary, which is scheduled to commence as soon as the two countries have finalized security and safety arrangements, agreed upon at Geneva in 2017.
    Nigeria and Cameroon have since outlived the dispute and have in the spirit of African brotherhood collaborated in trans-border activities for the benefit of the populations living along their common boundary.

    The National Boundary Commission wishes to call on the Nigerian Press Council and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to investigate the reportage with a view to sanctioning the culprits. It was quite unfortunate and sad that the purveyors chose to deliberately cause the unnecessary anxiety and panic instead of first verifying the authenticity of the story.

    It is important to also confirm that the United Nations has since confirmed that it was indeed a fake Report and reiterated that the UN does not and cannot create any State or alter the boundaries of any nation.

  • FG ready to demarcate Benue, Taraba boundary

     

    The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to demarcate the Boundary between Benue and Taraba State before mid-year in 2020.

    The decision is part of measures to restore lasting peace to the State which has been enmeshed in Boundary disputes that have led to several deaths and destruction of properties for over a decade.

    The Acting Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surv. Adamu Adaji made this known on Thursday at a meeting of the Joint Officials on Benue/Taraba inter-State Boundary in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.

    Adaji stated that demarcation exercise is essential for Administrative purposes and as such should not be considered as a gulf wall between the sister states which shared common cultural and historic background.

    According to him, the lingering Boundary problems between the two states dates back to 1976 when the Gongola State was created and Wukari Division which is made up of Wukari, Takum and Donga, were carved out of Benue State and merged with Sardauna and Adamawa province has helped to nurture acrimony between the states.

    “Several attempts made by the Government at demarcating the Boundary were rejected and every efforts made by the Commission to lay Boundary pillars were thwarted by the communities, stressing that this time around the present administration at both Federal and State levels are committed and determined to bring the impasse to a permanent end”

    He urged both sides of the Administrative divide to buy-in into the demarcation exercise maintaining that the exercise was a bridge to further cement the cordial relationship between the communities.

    Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Taraba state, Mr. Haruna Manu had described the resolve by the Federal Government to demarcate the boundary as a “golden opportunity” as the exercise would ensure that both states enjoy relative peace that have eluded them for some time.

    According to him, “there is no any better time than now for the sister states to demarcate the boundaries”.

    “The issue of Boundary crisis between these two states have been lingering and has largely been because of lack of understanding, if we are able to restore peace through the demarcation, posterity will judge us well” he added.

    In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu lamented that the demarcation plan was coming shortly after the recent Tiv/Jukun boundary crisis.

    He therefore emphasized the need for advocacy and sensitization to enlighten the people on the importance of the demarcation exercise, noting that “boundary is not a dividing wall between Benue and Taraba States, neither is it geared towards punishing anybody but that it is merely for administrative convenience”

    Both Deputy Governors solicited the acceptance and cooperation of the communities and that they should see it as a conduit pipe for peaceful coexistence and a means for socio-economic advancement.

    The Communique issued at the end of the meeting resolved the following;

    That the NBC shall make available a comprehensive map of the 1996 fieldwork based on the 1923/24 description of the two states for study.

    It also stated that the NBC and the Surveyor-General of the two states shall come to Abuja to authenticate the map and collect copies for the states between 16th – 18th December, 2019.

    It further stated that the two states shall study the map and interface bilaterally on areas for considerations in the spirit of togetherness and reportto the NBC not later than the end of January 2020 and that the National Boundary Commission shall thereafter convey another Joint meeting of officials at a date to be decided.

  • Boundary dispute: Edo, Delta call for urgent demarcation of land

    Boundary dispute: Edo, Delta call for urgent demarcation of land

    The Edo and Delta governments on Tuesday called on the National Boundary Commission to urgently demarcate the disputed land between both states.

    The call was made in a communiqué issued after a meeting between the two states’ boundary committees led by their deputy governors at the Edo Government House in Benin.

    The meeting was called by the Edo government following series of attacks on border communities in Orionmwon and Esan South East Local Government in Edo and Ethiop East, Ika South East and Ukwani Local Governments of Delta.

    Edo Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu and his Delta counterpart, Mr Kingsley Otuaro stressed the need for the National Boundary Commission to urgently carry out physical demarcation of the disputed areas.

    Shaibu harped on the need for both states to call on the commission to carry out the final demarcation of the boundary between Edo and Delta.

    He urged communities in the border areas of both states to embraced peace, while the commission should carry out the demarcation of the boundary between both states without further delay.

    Delta deputy governor said that there was need for both states to abide by the various decisions of past joint meetings of Edo and Delta as they relate to maintaining of status quo.

    He said that boundary meetings for dispute resolution could only be done with the active participation of the national boundary commission, hence the need to expedite action on the resolution of the boundary between both states.

    Both states reached an agreement during the meeting and constituted a joint committee comprising the attorney general, surveyor general, deputy chiefs of staff and commissioners of police of both states and local government chairmen of the disputed areas.