Poised to mitigate violence in the Niger Delta region, the European Union (EU), yesterday, rolled out plans to invest in 24 communities of 12 local councils in Delta State.
The gesture also spanned 26 communities across 13 local councils in Rivers State, including Bayelsa State, aimed at fostering inclusive community security approaches to addressing the systemic drivers of violence, criminality and building a resilience in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Fatima Abubakar, made this known in Asaba, at the official launch of the European Union funded project titled: ‘A Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta.’
Abubakar noted that the project, which marks a noteworthy milestone in its collaborative endeavours to promote inclusive community security approaches, was to address the root causes of violence and criminality in the region.
She said: “We are abreast of the local context of the region, its history, challenges and conflict dynamics that have shaped the current political, economic and social landscape of the region.”
Consequently, Search designs its projects to collaborate with local and international partners to spearhead impactful initiatives aimed at mitigating violence and building resilience in communities across the Niger Delta.
“One of such notable initiatives was the ‘Tomorrow is a New Day’ project, implemented from 2013 to 2015 with funding from the European Union. This violence-reduction project contributed to stability in the Niger Delta, facilitating the peaceful reintegration of ex-militants and promoting community reconciliation.”
She, therefore, called on all stakeholders to use this opportunity to build a resilient and peaceful Delta State, setting an example for sustainable development and community-driven transformation.
