Governor Hope Uzodimma has formally inaugurated a 15-member Imo State Boundary Committee, with a charge to resolve long-standing border disputes, foster peace among neighboring communities, and ensure the accurate delineation of the state’s territorial limits. The inauguration took place Tuesday at the New Executive Chamber, Government House, Owerri.
The committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Lady (Dr.) Chinyere Ekomaru, is expected to work in close collaboration with the National Boundary Commission to address contentious boundary lines, particularly in flashpoint areas where inter-community tensions often escalate into violence or legal deadlock.
Governor Uzodimma stated that reconstituting the committee is part of a broader strategy to promote security and sustainable development in Imo’s border zones. He emphasized that the delineation of accurate administrative boundaries is vital to preventing territorial misunderstandings that often spark communal clashes.
The governor expressed optimism in the capacity of the members to execute their mandate with professionalism, fairness, and urgency. “We are prioritizing this initiative because we understand that peace and cooperative relationships with neighboring states are fundamental to our socio-economic growth,” Uzodimma said.
The committee comprises a mix of government officials, security operatives, traditional leadership, and civil society voices. Members include the Surveyor-General of Imo State, Commissioners for Lands, Justice, Local Government, Finance, Information, as well as the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Imo State Police Commissioner, DSS Director, Immigration Comptroller, and respected community figures such as Chief Tony Black Nduka, Arch. Vincent Odih, and Dr. Iyke Njoku.
Their immediate tasks include verifying existing border claims, engaging local stakeholders, updating administrative maps, and submitting periodic reports to both the state government and the National Boundary Commission. The committee will also recommend long-term solutions for disputed territories and propose protocols to manage inter-community relations at the borderlines.
Security analysts and development experts across the Southeast have applauded the initiative, saying it signals a decisive move by the Uzodimma-led administration to tackle grassroots conflicts proactively, especially as boundary clashes have silently cost lives, disrupted trade, and undermined peacebuilding efforts in various rural areas.
