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Sha Falls:Plateau rejects NBC's recommendations

By Taye Obateru
Monday, December 29, 2003

JOS -THE dispute between the Plateau and Nasarawa states over the Sha falls, a tourist attraction, may not be over as Plateau State has described the recent award of the falls to Nasarawa State by the National Boundary Commission as unacceptable. Governor Joshua Dariye told journalists weekend that the decision of the commission was unacceptable as there was no doubt that the people inhabiting the area were Kulere people who are known indigenes of Plateau State.
He said Nasarawa State merely capitalized on the neglect of the people of the area by previous Plateau governments by going there to provide some amenities for the people and thereafter, started laying claims to the area, especially the falls which it renamed Farin Ruwa.
"We cannot mortgage our people or their future. There is no doubt that the people there are Kulere peoplewho are known to be indigenous to Plateau State, so we are going to challenge that decision", he stated.
Chief Dariye was optimistic that the matter would be resolved amicably since both states remained sisters,urging that the matter should not be blown out of proportion.He disclosed plans to limit the number of worship centres in public places like markets to one per religion to avoid unnecessary tension generated by multiplicity of churches and mosques in such places. As a way of boosting tourism development in the state, he said contacts would be made with some foreign airlines to explore the possibility of getting them to have direct flight to the Yakubu Gowon Airport