The Rivers State Boundary Commission has stepped in to address the long-standing land dispute between the Okoloma (Afam) community in Oyigbo Local Government Area and the Ban-Ogoi community of Tai Local Government Area, with the inauguration of a technical committee to facilitate a lasting resolution.
The intervention was formalised on Friday, January 16, 2026, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The meeting brought together key government officials and community leaders, with a focus on finding a peaceful and permanent solution to the boundary disagreement.
Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission and Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, who presided over the meeting, stressed the importance of dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect in resolving the dispute. She encouraged the affected communities to follow due process by channeling their concerns through lawful and official means, free from hostility.
Prof. Odu noted that enduring peace could only be achieved through sustained dialogue and adherence to legal frameworks, rather than confrontation. She also expressed satisfaction with the active involvement of political leaders from both local government areas, describing their presence as a positive signal of commitment to peace and stability.
The Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Dr. Okechukwu Akara Nwaogu, and his Tai LGA counterpart, Hon. Mbakpone Okpe, in their remarks, pledged to continue promoting peaceful coexistence among their people. They emphasized that harmony between communities remains essential for development and the attraction of government projects and infrastructure.
Both council chairmen commended the Rivers State Boundary Commission for its timely intervention, expressing optimism that the technical committee would help bring an end to the dispute and foster lasting peace between the neighboring communities.
