Federal Government Urged To Support Peace In Niger Delta

 By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu 

The Federal Government  has been called upon as a matter of urgency to holistically support the good people of Niger Delta through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the ongoing efforts at addressing issues affecting the Niger Delta region, especially as it concerns building peace and security in the region.

The call was made by the Project Steering Committee, PSC which include, The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Search for Common Ground, Stakeholder Democracy Network, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Academic Associate Peaceworks (AAPW) in a press briefing immediately after the conclusion of the Rivers State Peace Architecture meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

       State Peace architecture with SFCG Country Director Mrs Fatima Abubakar

Speaking to Newsmen, Chairman of the PSC and Director Planning Research and Statistics Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Paul Abia stated that the 'EU-funded project in the Niger Delta: A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta' project, implemented in 66 Communities and 33 Local Governments across Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, is capable of addressing the systemic conflict drivers  and criminality in the three States through an inclusive community security approach.

      State peace architecture members 

Mr. Abia who narrated the activities the PSC has undertaken before the State Peace Architecture meeting, stated that the committee now has increased understanding of the project goals, objectives and deliverables as well as their roles to interface with the project stakeholders, to assess implementation and alignment with the expected deliverables and impact of the project.

The Chairman of the committee assured the project stakeholders and beneficiaries of its commitment to provide the required strategic oversight function for the project in order to facilitate its achievement.

   

                     Women world 

While appreciating the Honourable Minster of Niger Delta Affairs, Engineer Abubakar Momoh who approved the composition and membership of the Steering Committee for the project, also appreciated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore for inaugurating the Steering Committee on behalf of the Honourable Minister on 16th May 2024.

Earlier, The Project Steering Committee members were briefed on the project deliverables, engaged and participated in Peace Architecture Platform meetings in Okrika and Gokana LGAS, paid advocacy visits to the Traditional Rulers of Okrika and Gokana LGAS and participated in the Rivers State Peace Architecture Platform meeting. 

Since the inception of the project in November 2023, the project has already impacted over ten thousand people across the Niger Delta Region. 

In 9 months, the project has successfully achieved, Community Entry activities and buy-in across the region with 3176 participants including 1072 females.

Established Community-Level Peace Architecture (CPA) bodies across the 3 States with 5492 participants including 2190 females, Local Government Peace Architecture (LPA) in 33 LGAS. State Peace Architecture (SPA) platforms in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States and organized Common Ground Journalism Training for 33 Media Actors across the Region amongst others.

               All  Stakeholders 

See full list of achievements below:

• Community Entry activities and buy-in successfully secured across the region with 3176 participants including 1072 females.

• Project successfully launched at the National and state levels of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States to secure Government support and buy-in.

• Advocacy engagement at multi-level stakeholders of the community, state and national levels are still ongoing.

• Baseline validation and dissemination of Findings across the regional and national levels were carried out to set parameters for assessing impact.

• Remobilisation or Establishment of Community-Level Peace Architecture (CPA) bodies across the 3 States with 5492 participants including 2190 females.

• Remobilization and establishment of Local Government Peace Architecture (LPA) in 33 LGAS.

• Establishment of State Peace Architecture (SPA) platforms in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.

• Capacity Strengthening to Community Leaders on Inclusive Leadership & Conflict Transformation with 92 participants including 26 females.

• Capacity Strengthening for Youth on conflict transformation and non-adversarial engagement with 86 participants including 33 females. 

• Common Ground Journalism Training for 33 Media Actors across the Region.

• Quarterly meetings for the Common Ground Journalist Forum (CGJF) to strengthen the skills of journalists in conflict sensitive reportage.

• Conducted Digital literacy training for 25 representatives of CSOs, media practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to improve their media literacy and deconstructing negative narratives both online and offline.

• Capacity strengthening with 90 representatives of Government security forces on principle of human centered security.

• Capacity strengthening for 487 Community Leaders on inclusive leadership and conflict transformation in Rivers and Delta States.

• Capacity strengthening for 330 Early Warning and Early Response field monitors across Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.