𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗢𝘆𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗘𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗶 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘃ernor

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, has said Governor Biodun Oyebanji is strengthening border and boundary management as part of efforts to curb insecurity and protect lives and property in the state.

Afuye made the remarks at the end of the Third Annual National Assembly Border and Boundary Community Interface organised by the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments' Administration in Abuja.

She said the Oyebanji administration has prioritised effective border and boundary management to foster peace, unity and security, noting that poor border administration has contributed to the rise in transborder kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.

According to the deputy governor, the Federal Government should intensify collaboration with states through regular consultations and the exchange of ideas to strengthen border administration and address the growing security challenges confronting the nation.

Afuye said the Ekiti government has adopted a "give-and-take" approach to resolving boundary disputes, a strategy she said has successfully settled several long-standing land conflicts within the state.

She cited the resolution of the protracted land dispute between Osan/Epe and Osan/Iro Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area, adding that the model has since been adopted by the National Boundary Commission as a reference for resolving similar disputes.

She also disclosed that the state government is actively engaging neighbouring Osun, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states to resolve inter-state boundary disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding.

"Following signals and red flags that some of these crises were fast approaching a dangerous dimension, I led delegations to some of these states to discuss how we could resolve the issues through roundtable talks using the principle of give and take, and these efforts are yielding results," she said.

The deputy governor commended the National Assembly for organising the interface and called for stronger constitutional and legal frameworks to improve border and boundary administration across Nigeria.

She also praised the National Boundary Commission for its efforts in resolving several interstate boundary disputes but urged the commission to intensify efforts in addressing unresolved cases.

Afuye warned that criminal elements often exploit unresolved boundary disputes and porous borders to carry out kidnappings, killings and other crimes before escaping into neighbouring communities or states.

She maintained that effective border and boundary management remains essential to national security, economic development and good governance, stressing that resolving boundary disputes would help improve security and encourage investment in affected communities.