KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 4: NPF legislator and Advisor Achumbemo Kikon on Thursday, September 3, backed the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026, describing the proposed arrangement as an opportunity to bridge developmental gaps and bring the people of Eastern Nagaland at par with the wider Naga community.
Speaking during the discussion on the Bill in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Kikon recalled the special provisions granted to the Tuensang region under the 16-Point Agreement of 1960 and drew parallels with the proposed 10-year FNTA arrangement. He stressed that the region’s developmental challenges were linked largely to geographical distance and inadequate communication rather than being inherently “backward.”
Kikon maintained that the FNTA should not be viewed as a division of the Naga people and said it should not affect the ongoing Naga political peace process. Calling the arrangement a “second opportunity” for Eastern Nagaland, he urged its leaders to use the authority judiciously and ensure that development reaches the people.
He also credited Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio’s consistent leadership on the issue and said the earlier Bill could not be passed due to legal hurdles. Kikon expressed hope that the new arrangement would help Eastern Nagaland “see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
