The Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission of 1976 and the Obolo (Andoni) People

Ubongabasi Ebenezer ISRAEL, PhD and Maclean Donald MBIKAN

 

Accepted 4^th October, 2021

 

Abstract

This study examines the Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission of 1976 report(s) / recommendation(s) on the Obolo (Andoni) people. The creation of states between 1967 and 1976 led to a lot of inter and intra state boundary disputes/adjustments. This led to the creation of the 1976 Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission to identify all boundary disputes with regards to creation of states and to make recommendations to the government accordingly. Because its chairman was justice Mamman Nasir, it was known as the ‘Nasir Commission’. The Obolo (Andoni) people, being a distinct ethnic group, lived together in South Eastern State prior to the 1976 state creation. The Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission, however, led to the balkanization of the Obolo people into two different states namely; Cross River State (now Akwa Ibom State) and Rivers State respectively. Since then, the Obolo (Andoni) people are still faced with the consequences of this historical exercise.

 

Keywords:  Justice Mamman Nasir, Boundary Adjustment, Andoni, Obolo People,  Balkanization.   

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