Boundary Conflicts: Oyo Acting Governor, Bayo Lawal Calls For Authenticated Map 

The Oyo State government has urged for an expedited approach to finding a long-term resolution that will allow the state to settle any outstanding boundary-related disputes with states with whom it shares borders. 

MOUTHPIECE NGR reports that the acting Governor issued a directive to the state’s Surveyor-General to provide the Technical Committee with a trustworthy and authenticated map that will serve as its direction going forward. 

The Oyo State Surveyor-General and Chairman of the Sub-Technical Committee, Surveyor Alaba Abiodun had led his team to the Governor’s Office to give their findings to the Technical Committee.

Acting Governor of the state, Barrister Adebayo Abdul-raheem Lawal, acknowledged that there are ongoing boundary disputes that affect both intra-state (within Oyo state) and inter-state (between Oyo and other neighboring states), but he pledged that Oyo state would act swiftly to address all outstanding issues while hosting the Technical and Sub-technical Committee on Boundary Dispute Resolutions on Monday at the SSG conference hall.

Lawal, who is also the Chairman of the Technical Committee, noted that boundary conflict is a continental and worldwide issue that nations and governments have had to find means to address, pointing out that it is not a problem that is exclusive to Oyo state alone. 

He argued that the fierce opposition put up by some traditional chiefs, Baales, and traditional rulers in trying to settle intra-state boundary disputes is one of the major difficulties facing the state government and other stakeholders.

Speaking on Oyo state inter-state boundary dispute with other neighboring states, Barr Lawal listed some states with which Oyo shares borders and has unresolved boundary disputes with to include Kwara and Ogun state, and Osun.

“We’ve had and we still have international boundary disputes, we have inter-boundary disputes and we have inter-states boundary disputes. I’m aware of all these things by virtue of my knowledge during my active days as a legal practitioner.

“For instance, I’m aware that we have dispute with Osun state, we have dispute with Ogun state and we have dispute with Kwara state.

“And along the belt of Nigeria and republic of Benin, there is a potential dispute because of rival claims between the citizens of Benin republic and Nigeria.” The Ag. Governor noted.

The Technical committee however, directed all non members of the committee which includes the Sub Technical Committee and the press to excuse the meeting before the Ag. Governor was locked in the room with the Technical Committee for more deliberations.

Members of the state Technical Committee on Boundary Disputes and Resolution include Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Lands and Urban Development, Attorney-general and Commissioner For Justice, Information, Culture and Tourism.

Others are the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, Office of the Surveyor-general, and Office of the Secretary to the state government.