Address Border Definition, Delineation Crisis, Gombe Gov Counsels

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has tasked boundary managers to provide a permanent framework for managing border issues which often degenerates into intra and inter state conflicts.

The governor gave the charge yesterday while declaring open a two-day interactive session of the National Boundary Commission and boundary committees of states in the North-east sub-region.

Governor Yahaya who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, said boundary matters played a key role in the economy and security of North-east sub-region and the nation as a whole.

He said disputes over farmlands and limits to territories often lead to loss of lives and destruction of property if not properly managed, saying when such occur, the source of livelihood of the people in the North -east and by extension the country is affected thereby contributing to poverty, food insecurity and a rise in violent crimes.

The governor commended the National Boundary Commission for organising the interactive session, expressing confidence that the forum will come up with strategies on ways to encourage the promotion of trans-border cooperation among states in the region.

He assured the Director General of the National Boundary Commission that he will continue to encourage his colleagues to support the work of the commission especially as they articulate recommendations to support the quick definition of boundaries in the zone.

The Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, said this was the first time managers of boundary affairs at the federal and state levels are interfacing to strategise on ways to fasttrack the issues of the definition of the interstate boundaries of the North-east states of the country.