Oyo State Government wants an accelerated process to finding a lasting solution that will enable the state to resolve all pending boundary-related issues with states with which it shares borders.
The Acting Governor of the state, Chief Bayo Lawal stated this while hosting the Technical and Sub-technical Committee on Boundary Dispute Resolutions in Oyo State.
The Acting Governor, who is the Chairman of the Technical Committee acknowledged that there were lingering boundary disputes affecting both inter-state (Oyo and other neighbouring states) and intra-state (within Oyo State)
He assured that Oyo State would expedite action to resolve all pending disputes.
While noting that boundary dispute was not a challenge that was peculiar to Oyo State but a global challenge, Chief Lawal said nations and states have to find ways to proffer resolve.
He explained that one of the major challenges faced by the state government and other stakeholders in resolving intra-state boundary disputes was the serious resistance by some traditional chiefs, baales, and traditional rulers.
The acting Governor however directed the Surveyor-General of the state to furnish the Technical Committee with a reliable and authenticated map that would guide it in moving forward.
The Chairman of the Sub-Technical Committee, who is the Surveyor-General of Oyo State, Surveyor Alaba Abiodun led his team to present its report to the Technical Committee at the Office of the Governor.
Speaking on Oyo State inter-state boundary dispute with other neighbouring states, Chief Lawal listed some states with which Oyo shares borders and had unresolved boundary disputes including Kwara and Ogun and Osun states.
“We’ve had and we still have international boundary disputes, we have inter boundary disputes and we have inter-states boundary disputes. I’m aware of all these things by virtue of my knowledge during my active days as a legal practitioner.
“For instance, I’m aware that we have a dispute with Osun State, we have a dispute with Ogun State and we have a dispute with Kwara State.
“And along the belt of Nigeria and republic of Benin, there is a potential dispute because of rival claims between the citizens of Benin republic and Nigeria.” the Acting Governor noted.
The Technical Committee, however, directed all non-members of the committee which includes the Sub Technical Committee and the press to excuse the meeting before the Ag. Governor was locked in the room with the Technical Committee for more deliberations.
Members of the state Technical Committee on Boundary Disputes and Resolution include Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Lands and Urban Development, Attorney-general and Commissioner For Justice, Information, Culture and Tourism.
Others are the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, Office of the Surveyor-General, and Office of the Secretary to the state government.
Iyabo Adebisi
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