We are committed to returning peace in Imo boundary communities – Njoku

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku has reiterated government’s resolve to return peace and ensure protection of lives and properties of people in the border communities., noting that the government has sacrificed a lot to achieve this.

Prof. Njoku gave this assurance while speaking during flag off ceremony of field work on the Imo/ Rivers inter- state boundary, by the National Boundary Commission at Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area Headquarters, Mmahu.

The deputy governor who is also the state boundary committee chairman, said occasional misunderstandings and conflicts have come up among the border communities in recent times, which called for a quick definition of the boundary lines between the two sister states to avoid major conflicts in the future.

Prof. Njoku commended the office of the National Boundary Commission and that of the Surveyor- General of the federation for undertaking the difficult task of tracing and defining the limits of the inter- state borders of Imo and Rivers State.

He urged those in the affected border areas of Oguta, Ohaji/ Egbema, Owerri West and Ngor- Okpala local government areas to cooperate with the field officers to ensure its early completion.

Speaking, the Director General, National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, said the field work which was expected to last for two months and the joint field team of both states and the federal government, would traverse the entire length of the boundary, passing through the affected local government areas of Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema and Ngor-Okpala in Imo State and the corresponding affected local government areas of Egbema, Ndoni, Emuoha, Ikwerre and Etche in Rivers State.

Adaji who later inaugurated the Joint Field Team, charged the members to among other things, discharge their duties with utmost sense of professionalism and commitment, as well as to come up with comprehensive data for the definition of the inter-state boundary.