The boundary disputes between Edo and Kogi states have remained unresolved due to vanished landmarks, competing claims and resistance from communities along the corridor, the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Mr. Adamu Adaji, has disclosed.
Adaji made this known in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday. He explained that while technical and administrative efforts had produced an approved boundary line, its implementation had faced strong resistance from communities living along the corridor.
According to him, the Edo-Kogi boundary was originally defined under Legal Notice No. 126 of 1954, which established the boundary between the then Northern and Western Regions. Over time, however, some of the physical features referenced in the historical document have disappeared, making it difficult for experts to accurately trace the original boundary.
Adaji said technical experts had attempted to interpret the historical documents, but the disappearance of key landmarks introduced elements of subjective judgement into the process. This, he noted, has led both states to continue laying claims to different areas.
He recalled that efforts to establish the boundary date back to 2006. After considering the claims of both states, the commission eventually produced a line that was regarded as the boundary between Edo and Kogi. The proposed boundary was subsequently approved by the Internal Boundary Committee, paving the way for its physical demarcation.
However, when the contractor moved to establish the approved boundary on the ground, communities along the corridor objected, arguing that the proposed line did not align with their understanding of the boundary. The resistance prompted the commission to engage stakeholders and seek broader agreement.
Adaji said the parties met again earlier in the year to determine how the approved boundary could be physically established and to assess its implications. Progress was later challenged when some parties withheld full cooperation and presented additional documents, including court judgements that had not previously been brought to the commission’s attention.
“We have to examine these issues and engage the states so that we can arrive at a common understanding,” he said.
He added that the Edo-Kogi boundary process remains ongoing and that the commission has agreed to commence demarcation once resources become available. “We are still looking for the resources to undertake it. Where challenges arise, we will address them as we encounter them,” Adaji stated.
The Edo-Kogi boundary dispute involves the Ogori-Ekpedo, Okene-Okpella and Ake axes, where boundary interpretation and demarcation remain contested.
The commission is also addressing farmland disputes between Ibaji communities in Kogi and Uloshi/Esan South-East in Edo, alongside the broader interstate demarcation.
Adaji urged communities to cooperate with the commission, stressing the need for enlightenment and collaboration among states, local governments and boundary communities.
He advised governments and stakeholders to protect the property rights of people living along boundary corridors, regardless of which state ultimately administers their locations.
“Boundaries are primarily for administrative purposes. People can own properties across boundaries,” he said.
He further urged State and Local Government Boundary Committees to work with the NBC to properly educate residents about the purpose and implications of boundaries. Traditional institutions, community leaders, and all levels of government should encourage cooperation and discourage actions capable of triggering conflict.
“Any crisis that results in the loss of lives and property because of boundaries is unnecessary and should not be encouraged in any way,” Adaji concluded, adding that Nigerians living along boundary corridors should view themselves as one people free to live and own property across administrative lines.