The European Union, EU, is set to launch a 6.5M Euros projects in 66 communities in Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, titled “Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminally and Violence in the Niger Delta Project.”
The EU-funded project which is set to be officially launched by Search for Common Ground ,SEARCH, which is the implementing partner and its consortium partners; the Stakeholder Democracy Network ,SDN, Academic Associate Peace Works ,AAPW, and Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta ,PIND, will be implemented in 33 local government areas and 66 communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital ahead of the official launch, the Country Director of Search for Common Ground, Mrs Fatima Abubakar stated that while all the 8 LGAS in Bayelsa are beneficiaries of the project, 12 and 13 LGAs in Delta and Rivers State have been selected respectively, adding that the project is expected to last for 18 months.
Abubakar who was represented by the Head of Office and Programme Implementation – Niger Delta, Yacinthe Agbdjagan and the Consortium Manager, Mr Anicetus Atakpu, explained that the project will adopts a transformative framework that addresses the core drivers of criminality, violence, and conflict in the region, with specific emphasis on empowering and including youths and other marginalized groups in community security and social cohesion programmes.
He said: “The project also target at-risk youths, communities impacted by oil bunkering activities, state and community security
actors, the private sector, media professionals, key civil society organizations, and policymakers at various levels.
“Deploying a unique paradigm shift in how stakeholders approach the complex issues of oil bunkering, criminality, and security in the Niger Delta, this project advocates a bottom-up, human-centric approach in order to reduce the prevalence of criminal activities in the region.”
He further explained that the key objectives of the project include, “intra-community collaboration for social Inclusion and economic opportunities to oster collaboration within communities to address social exclusion, economic challenges, and environmental degradation.
“Building trust through participatory security Operations by encouraging the establishment of trust and collaboration between communities and government/security actors for more participatory, community-centered security operations, promote transparency and inclusivity in security measures to enhance community engagement and cooperation.
“Leveraging on arts- and culture-based approaches to bridge divides and foster social cohesion among communities, both online and offline, support initiatives that utilize creative expressions to promote unity and understanding.
“Facilitate policy change at local, state, regional, national, and international levels to institutionalize community-centered security approaches, and; collaborate with policy makers to integrate these approaches into broader regional strategies for sustained impact.”
He commended the implementing states government and the consortium partners for their support for the programme, noting that the project is leveraging on previous successes and existing relationships with diverse stakeholders as represented by the consortium partners.
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