— Stakeholders Recount Success Stories
The European Union has wrapped up its Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, CRIN-VIN project in the Niger Delta with more communities adopting the peacebuilding method to resolving conflicts.
At the Project Close-Out and Dissemination of Endline Evaluation Meeting’ with stakeholders in Yenagoa, the Country Director of one of the implementing partners, Search for Common Ground Nigeria. Karno Ouattara said the Project had over the past thirty months significantly reduced violence and criminality in the region.
The project was implemented across sixty-six communities and thirty-three Local Government Areas in three States of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta.
Country Director of Search for Common Ground Nigeria, About Karno Ouattara represented by the Director of Operations, Mr. Onnu James Udalor while commending the European Union for its commitment to supporting a community-centred approach to peacebuilding in the Niger Delta said from November 2023 when the project commenced, communities affected by conflict now understand that when given the right support and space, they could lead the solutions.
He pointed out that through the initiative, communities had learnt to resolve their differences in more constructive ways through inter-communal dialogues, while members of the State Peace Architecture (SPA) have taken leadership beyond dialogue and community engagement and have actively led efforts in drafting a bill for the establishment of a Community Peace Commission in Bayelsa State.
The Consortium Manager, Search for Common Ground, Mr. Chorbe Joshua, said through economic enhancement projects and livelihood intervention schemes such as oil mills and cassava processing plants, youths in the region had been meaningfully engaged to mitigate violence, conflicts and restiveness in the area as communities had been empowered to boost their economy.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Retired Commissioner of Police, Akpoebi Agberebi and the Secretary of the Bayelsa State Peace Architecture, Dr. Inebaraton Preye said the project had contributed to the peace in the State.
Chairman of the Community Peace Architecture at Courtikiri and Kongho in Akassa in Brass LGA, Chief Timi Koro and Dr. Oyinlayefa Amangala from Obunagha said community leadership, youths and women have benefitted from the project.
It is the hope of many that the Community Centred Approach to Transforming Violence and Criminality in the Niger Delta Project’ which is funded by the European Union, with the support of its three implementing partners; Search for Common Ground, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND and Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN, would ensure sustainable peace in the region and enhance the economic lives of communities and the people.
