June 09, (THEWILL) – Inability of the federal government to implement trans-border initiative, mooted by National Boundary Commission (NBC), has been a huge hindrance to the peace process among conflicting communities across Nigeria, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo has observed.
Ekpo made the observation on Thursday, during an interactive session with selected correspondents of national newspapers in Uyo, stating that the trans-border initiative was a lofty idea from the National Boundary Commission, which would have assisted in peace deals in the border communities.
THEWILL recalls that Transborder Cooperation initiative, a novel idea evolved by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), to checkmate border hostilities and promote inter-border peace and understanding was embraced by the state government to tackle conflicts arising from boundary disputes.
Ekpo regretted that if the programme was implemented, it would help in solving border conflicts and restore peace.
He recalled that the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC), established by the federal government at Oku Iboku, Itu local government area in Akwa Ibom state served the warring communities from Cross River State and Akwa Ibom without any rancour between them.
The Deputy Governor noted that immediately the company collapsed, hostilities resumed in the area, causing many residents to flee from the area.
“When Oku Iboku paper mill was there, we never had any conflict between neighbouring communities there. But as soon as the Paper Mill collapsed, communities around there were at war with each other.
“If the Paper Mill was still functioning, we wouldn’t have the communal conflicts there because many youths would have engaged themselves in meaningful jobs to help them instead of fighting.”
He, however, urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, implement the trans border cooperation initiative to curb hostilities in border areas.
The Deputy Governor appreciated federal Donor Agencies such as National Emergency Relief Management Agency (NEMA) for assisting the state government in providing relief materials to victims of border crisis and other communities in the state.
