By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
February 26, 2026
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State and Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, His Excellency Comrade Joel Salifu, on Thursday attended the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Edo/Kogi Interstate Boundary held in Abuja.
He was accompanied by Hon. Enesi Ahmed Nuhu, Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon Rosemary Ohiezu Chairman of Ogori-Magongo local government area, Surv. Salihu Mustepha, Surveyor General of Kogi State, Surv. Negedu Achimugu Amos, Assistant Surveyor General of Kogi State, Surv. Bavua Yusuf Maikudi Chief Surveyor of Kogi State, Surv. Akagwu John, Secretary Kogi State Boundary Committee, Barrister Stanley Atule, Legal Adviser of the Kogi State Boundary Committee, among others.
The meeting was convened by the National Boundary Commission as part of ongoing efforts to promote the definition and final demarcation of the boundary between the two states.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor commended the Commission for organizing the meeting at a critical time, noting that although the boundary has witnessed disputes in the past, both Edo and Kogi States are now committed to resolving all outstanding issues peacefully.
He explained that earlier attempts to monument the boundary were stalled due to unresolved issues and lack of proper sensitization of border communities, stressing the need to revisit grey areas to gain local cooperation.
Comrade Joel Salifu identified key areas of concern, including the Ogori/Ekpedo and Okene/Okpella sectors, as well as Ake Island, and called on the Commission to urgently address emerging tensions in some border communities like Ibaji communities in Kogi State and Uloshi community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State over farmland ownership.
He called for the establishment of an inclusive demarcation team involving traditional institutions and other stakeholders, while appealing to the Commission to allow the two states set up the committees to sensitize their people inother for the boundary delimitation exercise to be peaceful.
Kogi State’s participation shows the government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s continued commitment to peaceful resolution of boundary matters, strengthened inter-state cooperation, and support for federal initiatives aimed at giving clarity, peace and stability along state boundaries.
