A consortium working to implement the European Union, (EU)-funded project, ‘A community Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta,’ has identified oil bunkering, youth marginalization socioeconomic agitation and environmental degradation among others are key drivers of conflict in the region.
Country Director, Search for Common Group, Fatima Abubakar, made this known at the pre-launch media briefing of the project, yesterday in Abuja.
She said the project seeks to address social inclusion, economic challenges and environmental degradation within communities through encouraged dialogue that can foster sustainable development.
Made up of Search for Common Group, (SCG), Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta, PIND), the stakeholders Democracy Network and the, (SDN), and the Academic Associate Peace Network, (AAPN), the body said agitations in the region stemming from the lack of inclusive wealth distribution, has birthed a circle of criminality and violence that must be addressed to prevent further degeneration.
“As you may well know, the Niger Delta, which is famous for immense natural resources and rich cultural heritage, has been a theatre of unrest with multiple conflicts linked majorly to socioeconomic agitations.
“The agitations which are a by-product of the lack of inclusive wealth distribution, environmental degradation arising from oil exploration and the absence of commensurate community focused development, have become the negative signature of the region’s conflict profile,” Abubakar said
According to her, key component of the project include intra community collaboration, building trust through participatory security operations, arts and culture based cohesion and policy change for institutionalizing community centered security approaches.
She adds that the 18 month project will be implemented in 33 Local Government Areas, (LGAs), and 66 communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
While all the 8 LGAs in Bayelsa are beneficiaries of the project, 12 and 13 LGAs in Delta and Rivers states have been selected to benefit. The LGAs include Ekeremor, Nembe, Yenegoa, Ogbia, Brass, Southern Ijaw, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama in Bayelsa state.
In Delta, Bomadi, Burutu, Udu, Ughelli, North, Uvwie, Isoko North, Ndokwa East, Warri West, Ethiope East, Sapele, Warri South, and Warri North LGAs while in Rivers state, the benefiting LGAs are Ahaoda East, Ahaoda West, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Andoni, Emohua, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Obio/Akpor, Ogbara/Egbema/Ndoni, Okrika and Let Harcourt.
Head of Office and Head of the Project, Yacinthe Agbadjagan, said the but in og government at all level into the project, is very critical to its successful.
He said so far, there has been good political will from the government of the participating states.
