Abuja — Encouraged by the efforts of the Border Communities Development Agency, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that infrastructural facilities be provided for all the 21 states with international boundaries which are also to be visited by the leadership of the agency soon.

This, according to the president, is to give the affected communities a sense of national belonging and make them contribute their efforts to the development of the nation as bonafide Nigerian nationals.

According to the federal government, the affected towns and communities have been neglected for too long and therefore there is need for Nigerians living in those areas to have a sense of belonging as part of the country.

Meanwhile the Executive Secretary of the agency, Engr. Numoipre Wills, had been commended by the president for providing a roadmap for technical development of the areas after giving the agency's report at the villa.

To this end, the agency had conducted a familiarisation tour beginning with Borno and Adamawa, and the subsequent communities to be toured in this second phase are located in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states after which are Seme, Igberokodo, Idiroko, Obele, River Opera and Saki. The agency will also visit district heads and traditional leaders of these communities to solicit their support and cooperation.

This is also part of efforts to have on-the-spot assessment of the conditions of border communities for concrete infrastructural development. In the course of the visits, the agency, the state and local governments agreed to collaborate in various developmental efforts that will enhance the welfare of the communities.

The Executive Secretary had noted the strategic importance of border communities and acknowledged that the border communities have suffered neglect for so long and the present administration of President Jonathan has demonstrated the political will to correct these anomalies by providing social and infrastructural needs of border communities.

The chief press secretary of the agency, Akpohwaye R. Atarhe confirmed that all is now set for the tour of the border areas with a view to hamonising their developments with those of other interior communities across the country. She commended President Jonathan for the strategic attention being given to the once neglected agency.