DEVELOPMENT
Abia–Akwa Ibom Border Communities Embrace Peace as Deputy Governors Step In to Safeguard Strategic Inter-State Road Project
The Deputy Governors of Abia and Akwa Ibom States have jointly moved to douse rising tensions and restore calm between the people of Akirika Obu in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State and their neighbours, Ikot Udo in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, following concerns that lingering disputes could disrupt an ongoing inter-state road construction project.
The high-level intervention came during a peace meeting held at Akirika Obu, where both state governments reaffirmed their commitment to peace, cooperation, and development, stressing that the road project must proceed without interruption for the collective benefit of the affected communities.
Addressing stakeholders and residents at the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, appealed passionately for restraint and peaceful coexistence, urging both communities to place development above discord so that the road construction could continue unhindered.
Engr. Emetu made it clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to resolve boundary or land ownership issues, explaining that such responsibilities rest solely with the National Boundary Commission.
According to him, the overriding interest of the Abia and Akwa Ibom State Governments is to ensure that the road project is successfully completed in the interest of the people.
“We are not here to claim boundaries. We are not the National Boundary Commission.
“Our concern is that this road construction continues smoothly because once the road is tarred, development and prosperity will follow,” Engr. Emetu said.
The Abia Deputy Governor disclosed that both state governments have already given approval for the construction of the road from their respective ends. He explained that the Abia and Akwa Ibom portions of the road would eventually meet at the disputed area, pending official boundary demarcation by the National Boundary Commission.
He further appealed to the communities to embrace peace, reminding them of their shared history, social bonds, and cultural ties.
“You intermarry and live together; why should you fight and kill yourselves over a piece of land you will one day leave?” he asked.
Engr. Emetu also commended security agencies for their proactive role in maintaining calm in the area, while issuing a stern warning to individuals or groups bent on fomenting trouble. He assured that both state governments would no longer tolerate actions capable of threatening peace, stability, and development in the region.
Earlier in her remarks, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator (Dr.) Akon Etim Eyakenyi, equally called on all stakeholders and community members to choose peace and allow the road construction project to proceed without obstruction.
She emphasized that sustainable development is impossible without functional road infrastructure, noting that the joint intervention by both state governments was driven purely by the desire to promote peace, progress, and shared prosperity across state boundaries.
Senator Eyakenyi commended the Governors of Abia and Akwa Ibom States for their commitment to development and inter-state collaboration, describing their approach as laudable, people-centred, and reflective of responsive leadership.
Providing a security perspective, the Commander of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Abia State, Brigadier General Hassan M. Bello, explained that the presence of the military in the area was solely to ensure security and create an enabling environment for peaceful engagement among stakeholders.
He downplayed the boundary dispute, noting that the communities involved share common cultural heritage, family relationships, and long-standing ties.
According to him, the Nigerian Army was not deployed to determine boundaries but to support and enforce peace and any resolutions reached by constituted authorities.
Brigadier General Bello warned that any attempt to disrupt peace or undermine agreed outcomes would be decisively addressed, adding that the Chief of Army Staff fully supports the ongoing peace process. He urged all parties to cooperate, respect constituted authority, and see the road project as a shared developmental asset that will benefit everyone, irrespective of future boundary decisions.
In their separate contributions, the Mayor of Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, Hon. Chibunna Akara, and his counterpart in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Utibe Nwoko, appealed to all stakeholders and community members to genuinely give peace a chance.
They called on their respective communities to support the ongoing road construction and ensure it continues without disruption, stressing that the project is designed for the collective good and long-term development of the area.
The peace meeting, which drew officials from both state governments, community leaders, and security agencies, was widely seen as a significant step toward strengthening inter-state cooperation, rebuilding trust among neighbouring communities, and laying a solid foundation for lasting peace and sustainable deve
lopment in the affected border areas.