Governor Hope Uzodimma has inaugurated the Imo State Boundary Committee headed by the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Placid Njoku.
During the inauguration, the governor charged the members to go all out to settle the various boundary disputes and help Imo State government address all issues of disagreements pertaining to boundary with neighbours.
Performing the ceremony at the Imo State Executive Council Chambers Owerri, on Thursday, Uzodimma said that the inauguration was consistent with provisions of Page 4 section 12 of the National Boundary Establishment Act 26.
He noted that the committee had become necessary in view of series of boundary disputes resulting from boundary adjustments of Imo as a state, which he said had changed from former Eastern Nigeria to old Imo State and present day Imo State.
He congratulated the committee comprising the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Finance, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, the State Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security Services (DSS), the Surveyor General of Imo State and the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers Imo State.
Others include the Comptroller of Immigration, Imo State and three members knowledgeable in boundary matters who will represent the three zones of the State (Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe), the Special Adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor who serves as the Secretary.
The governor promised to give them the necessary support that would enable them succeed in their assignment.
Accepting the responsibility on behalf of his members, the chairman who is also the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, said they had “accepted to serve,” noting that “it will be the responsibility of this Committee to ensure that the State gets its due right in relation to projects and programmes concerning the State boundary with her neighbours.”
Njoku explained that his committee would also be guided by laws, rules, maps, survey and other legal instruments that would enable them to ensure that the state was not short-changed in relation to boundary issues with her neighbours.
On behalf of the members, he assured the governor and Imo people that they would do their best to bring peace between Imo people and her neigbhours.
