Deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom and Abia states have jointly appealed to residents of Ikot Udo in Ika Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Ukwa East Local Government Area to embrace peace as the only path to development, following renewed efforts to resolve a long-standing boundary dispute.
The appeal was made at Ikot Udo during a joint peace parley convened by both state governments, a move seen as a decisive step toward ending years of tension that have stalled growth and basic infrastructure in the area.
Speaking on behalf of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said lasting development cannot take root in an atmosphere of conflict. She explained that Governor Eno’s administration is guided by a grassroots-focused development model designed to reach communities that have remained on the margins for years.
According to her, while previous administrations often concentrated projects at urban centres, the current approach in Akwa Ibom places equal emphasis on rural communities, ensuring fair distribution of roads and social infrastructure across the state’s 31 local government areas. She said this philosophy informed the governor’s early intervention in the Ikot Udo–Ukwa East dispute and his direct engagement with Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, when the land issue surfaced.
Senator Eyakenyi praised Governor Otti’s development-driven leadership and stressed that poor access roads had remained a major barrier to progress in the affected communities. She urged youths from both sides to turn away from violence and invest their energy in productive pursuits that would improve livelihoods rather than destroy shared assets.
Reaffirming an earlier agreement reached by both states, she said Akwa Ibom and Abia governments had resolved to construct their respective portions of the Ikot Udo–Ukwa East road until they meet at a common point. She disclosed that Akwa Ibom has awarded a contract for a 3.7-kilometre road from Urua Inyang to Ikot Udo, while Abia State has approved a 12-kilometre stretch from Oredze to Ikot Inyang.
Addressing rumours surrounding the project, the Deputy Governor dismissed claims that a city gate would be erected along the road, describing them as unfounded. She clarified that the project is a straight road intended to serve residents of both states and promote economic activity, insisting there was no reason for renewed conflict over land when the goal is shared prosperity.
Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, said the peace meeting was aimed at securing lasting harmony between the two communities. He confirmed that both states had issued Executive Orders to back the road construction from their respective ends up to Ikot Udo.
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He noted that the exercise was not about redrawing boundaries but about building infrastructure that future generations would benefit from. Engr. Emetu warned those who incite violence and vandalize property to desist, urging them to reflect on the long-term damage such actions cause. He assured residents that no one would be deprived of land or rights, adding that years of unrest had largely accounted for the area’s slow pace of development.
Responding on behalf of their communities, the Chairman of Ika Local Government Area, Barr. Utibe Nwoko, and his Ukwa East counterpart, Hon. Chibuna Akara, thanked Governors Umo Eno and Alex Otti for prioritising peace and development. They appealed to residents to genuinely commit to the peace process and called on security agencies, especially the military, to maintain firm presence to ensure lasting calm.
The peace parley drew traditional rulers, community leaders, senior government officials, and other stakeholders from both states, underscoring broad support for dialogue, unity, and infrastructure-led development.
