FCT minister, Niger gov move to resolve border disputes 

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubkakar Sani Bello, have agreed to work together in resolving the lingering border disputes between the communities in the state and the FCT.

The two leaders gave this indication in a joint address to the newsmen at the close of their meeting in Abuja.

Bello noted that Abuja was a creation of law and that the issues about its boundary were clearly stated in the laws of the land and therefore, could not be shrouded in confusion.

He recalled that the easiest way out of the situation was to reactivate various institutional frameworks set up to deal with such matters, saying such a committee should be headed by very senior officials, such as the Secretary to the Niger State Government or the FCT Permanent Secretary which would also comprise all relevant officers of both administrations.

The committee, he noted, should liaise with the relevant Federal Government agencies like the National Boundary Commission (NBC) with a view to working out a permanent solution to the issues.

The FCT minister expressed readiness to remit all Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes due Suleja from workers who reside in Suleja but work in Abuja, saying FCT was always prepared to act in tandem with the provisions of the laws.

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He said he had been approached earlier by the Chairman of Tafa Local Government on the matter and that he had directed that FCTA should harmonise all claims and to do what was needful.

Bello called on the local council officials of the border communities to rise up to the challenge of combating the menace of filth in the Zuba-Madalla axis, as well as the encroachment of traders on the Madalla end of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

Earlier, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said he was in Abuja in the quest for a peaceful resolution of the lingering border dispute between the two territories in Dakwa and Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, as well as Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils of FCT.

He noted that all the four council areas had continued to lay claims to the various disputed pieces of land and that there was the need to deal with the matter in an amicable way.