Kwara seeks permanent demarcation of disputed areas

The Kwara State Government has stressed the need for permanent demarcation of disputed areas to stem crisis relating to land in the State and in the country.
The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, made the call in Ilorin while receiving the Director General, National Boundary Commission, Doctor Mohammed Ahmad, and his team who were on an advocacy-appeal visit to the State.
Governor Ahmed, who was represented by his Deputy, Elder Peter Kisira, reiterated the commitment of the State government in encouraging negotiated settlement of land and boundary disputes in preference to litigation.
The Governor said the issues of land/boundary dispute between Share and Tsaragi communities started over four decades ago with various efforts made by previous administrations including the present to ensure final settlement of the dispute.
He stated that the state government in ameliorating the suffering of the victims instituted an administrative panel of enquiry headed by the Emir of Ilorin to find out the remote and immediate cause of the crisis and proffer lasting solution to forestall further occurrences.
The Committee, Governor Ahmed noted, has submitted its report ‎and has been implemented.
The Governor also explained that a Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up to determine the extent of damages and suggest how to cushion the effects of the loses ‎has submitted its report and white paper on it is under implementation.
Ahmed stressed that government has equally followed it up with the constitution of Implementation/Reconciliation C‎ommittee made up of traditional rulers and other opinion leaders aimed at finding a lasting solution to the dispute.
Earlier, Ahmad had briefed the ‎Governor on the activities and actions taken by the Commission to solve various issues involving the State and it’s neighboring States.
Dr. Ahmad said the Commission received several petitions on the age-long inter-government boundary dispute between Share and Tsaragi Communities.
The Director General ‎explained that the Commission was in the State towards finding lasting solution to the problems.
He appealed to the State government to support the State Boundary Committee to participate actively in the programme of activities that would be jointly agreed on the Edu/Ifelodun Inter-Local government boundary.