SFCG, Partners Make Strides in Reducing Criminality in Niger-Delta with EU Support.
By Christiana Babayo
Search for Common Ground in partnership with Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and the foundation for Peace Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) has recorded significant progress in the fight against criminality and other social vices in the Niger Delta region.
The 18-month project, titled “Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” (CRIN-VIN), is funded by the European Union.
This move is part of the organization’s efforts to promote inclusive approaches to address drivers of violence and criminality in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers state.
The Lead consultant for the project in Bayelsa State, Amb. Victor Baba Okpanachi, explained that the project targets Local Authorities, Young women and men, traditional and community leaders, Government Security forces, State and regional policy makers, Oil companies, to mention but a few.
He also said that the project is expected to strengthen collaboration amongst communities/security actors ,foster online and offline cohesion between communities, empower diverse community actors to address social inclusion and foster multi-level dialogue between communities, civil society actors and government officials, among others.
Okpanachi said the project targets 8 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa state, covering 16 communities, including Southern Ijaw, Brass, Ogbia, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe, Yenagoa, and Kolokuma-Opokuma.
“The Niger-Delta region battles with multi-dimensional challenges including fiscal imbalances, growing public frustration, currency crises, unsteady economic indices, oil bunkering and the related practice of artisanal oil refining have reached crisis levels, contributing to a reduction in Nigeria’ crude production.
“In addressing the fundamental social and economic drivers of these vices, the project adopts a bottom-top, inclusive and community-centered approach. This approach takes into account the needs of the people, especially youths in handling the systemic drivers of violence and criminality by providing alternative motivating incentives.
“The series of trainings spread across Youth Leaders, Community Leaders and the Peer Exchange workshop has transformed participants and led them to carryout Action Plans addressing the root causes of conflict in their various communities” He noted.
Explaining more on the gains of the project as it is set to round up, the Consultant noted that one of the outstanding things about the project was SEARCH’s Common Ground Approach methodology to conflict transformation that was deployed to support divided groups in the Niger-Delta which helped them overcome their differences and collaborate for peace.
Okpanachi noted that through the trainings on the project, Local community actors and youths are better equipped to jointly address social exclusion, lack of economic opportunity and environmental degradation.
