Chim Ogwutum, Port Harcourt
The governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has expressed pleasure to be part of a project designed to launch ‘A Community Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta.’
The governor who, was represented by the commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Chisom Gbaji at the official launch of the project held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the ministry of Justice auditorium, Rivers State secretariat, Port Harcourt, thanked Search For Common Ground and its implementing partners for bringing together all the agencies involved in combating violence and criminality in Nigeria for this event.
Governor Fubara said there is no better time at this period when various sums of despicable and distrusting criminal acts are unleased every day on innocent and unsuspecting residents by misguided youths, for inclusive community security strategies.
According to him, “We understand the objective of the project is to foster inclusive community security approaches to address the same drivers of violence and criminality that are simultaneously going on in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.”
This projects, he noted, also has the specific objective of empowering diverse communities to address social inclusion, lack of economic opportunities and environmental degradation. It will also strengthen collaboration among communities, outdoor security and among the private sectors around preventing and restoring areas now facing diverse violence and criminality.
The governor further described the project as a laudable initiative pointing out, that it will foster online and offline social provision within communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, foster multi-level dialogue communities, civil society outdoors and government officials in Nigeria and abroad for development.
He expressed optimism that the project will realize its objectives by transforming and channeling the bubbling energies of youths into worthy ventures that will be beneficial to all.
“We, as government, our primary agenda is peace and security of lives and properties. We are thus supportive of any project whether soft or hard, designed to improve peace and tranquility in the state,” Governor Fubara stated.
He thanked Search and Common Ground and the implementing partners and founders of the project.
On his own part, the Youth Development commissioner, Hon. Chisom Gbaji who, also represented the secretary to the state Government (SSG), Hon. Tammy Danagogo, congratulated organizers of the event and implored them to partner more with the youths because they have a structural frame work already subsisting, adding that with the Governor Sim Fubara administration is a rising wave of peace and stability in the state today.
Hon. Gbaji said the project is the kind of programme anticipated in the state from various agencies and organizations, and prayed that the project should be extended to the 23 local governments of the state.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Simon Amadi, in his speech, thanked initiators of the project, which he hoped would help in curbing the menace of violence and criminality in the Niger Delta region.
The CJ noted that the courts are congested and that the correctional center, the prison is also congested.
According to him, the prison was built for about 2000 persons, but now houses about 4000 persons, and expressed hope that planting the SFCG programme in the various communities and local governments in the state, will reduce violence and criminality.
Hon. Justice Amadi assured that the Rivers State Judiciary is ready to partner with Search for Common Ground in many forms, since the mantra of the present administration of the state is ‘peace’. “Without peace, there will be no development, without peace the court cannot sit; without peace even the security agents cannot work,” he stressed.
He thanked in particular, those who chose to site the project launch in a state of the Niger Delta, South-South and urged sustenance as, “it is always one thing to start the project, and it is another thing to carry on.”
He restated his assurance to partner with them and do everything possible to ensure the project succeeds in Rivers State.
Earlier in her welcome address, the country director of Search for Common Ground, Fatima Abubakar Madaki, on behalf of her organisation and their consortium partners, Stakeholder democracy Network (SDN), Academic Associate Peace Works (AAPW), and Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta PIND), said it is truly an honour to sand before all at the significant occasion.
She expressed gratitude to Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State and the Rivers State authorities for their exceptional support for the launch.
“This moment marks a noteworthy milestone in our collaborative endeavours to promote inclusive community security approaches and address the root causes of violence and criminality in the Niger Delta.
“Before delving into the details of our transformative project, it is essential to reflect on Search’s steadfast commitment to peace building in the region. 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,” she said.
Madaki maintained that one of such notable initiatives was the ‘Tomorrow is a New Day’ project, implemented from 2013 to 2014 with funding from the European Union, adding that the violence-reduction project contributed to stability in the Niger Delta, facilitating the peaceful reintegration of ex-militants and promoting community reconciliation.
In Rivers State, she noted that the project left a lasting impact in Gokana and Okrika Local government areas through innovative approaches like community reintegration, radio drama, community radio, and trauma healing.
Through the project, she explained, infrastructural interventions such as the construction of internal roads and community radio stations were built in Abam Ama in Okrika and Kpor in Gokana Local Government areas.
According to her, building on these successes, Search continued its impactful presence in the region with projects such as, ‘Deepening Peace in the Niger Delta’ between 2019 and 2020. These interventions enriched democratic governance, fostered community cohesion, and developed the capacity of youths and women.
On the new project, she stated:
“The project we gathered to launch today seeks to foster inter-community collaboration around issues of social inclusiveness, lack of economic opportunities, and environmental degradation to build trust and collaboration between communities and government and security actors for more participatory, community-centered security operations.”
She said the project seeks to leverage arts and culture-based approaches to foster social cohesion between divided communities both online and offline and to facilitate policy change to institutionalize community-centered security approaches at the local, state, regional, national and international levels.
The Search for Common Ground country director stressed that as they embark on the new project, it is crucial to recognize the profound impact of collaborative peace-building efforts, between partners, communities, government, security agencies and the private sector, as well as the international community. The launch, she added signifies a renewed commitment to the vision of a peaceful Niger Delta, drawing inspiration from past successes and the resilient spirit of the communities they serve.
She further noted that the transformative approach of Search and Partners aligns with the Rivers State government’s commitment to curbing criminality in communities, as demonstrated in the government’s fight against oil bunkering and cultism in the state.
According to her, the government’s collaboration with security actors in responding to some of the targeted conflict drivers the project has highlighted, also demonstrates an important alignment in project objectives.
In addition, she said, the current economic loan scheme by the Rivers State government, which targets small businesses, also complements the provision of livelihood activities under the economic component of the project.
“The interventions and seeming alignments represent a bottom-up, inclusive, and community-centered approach. Recognizing the significance of community-led initiatives, we aim to empower youth and engage diverse stakeholders to contribute to the socio-economic development of Rivers State, fostering a safer and more secure environment for all.”
“It aims at bringing communities together and fostering collaboration with the government and security agencies to bring peace and social cohesion to Rivers State,” she said.
Fatima appealed to all to use the project as an opportunity to build a resilient and peaceful Rivers State, setting an example for sustainable development and community-driven transformation, while advising the youths to shun violence and criminality for a peaceful, development focus and progressive Rivers State.
Giving his royal blessing on behalf of traditional rulers, chairman Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Ohna Chidi Sergeant Awuse said the issue now is that everything is back to the community, which is important as he stressed the need for youth inclusion.
“We are now all community leaders,” King Awuse insists, saying, “The project is essentially a vehicle programme but the key elements, which is the youth, is left out. What is important in any programme is the youth, and as a leader, I must pray that this country will continue to exist and succeed.
“As a traditional ruler, we must support anything that will end violence and criminality,” he assured.
King Awuse pointed out that some of the reasons why people talk about Niger Delta is inequality, adding that they now rely on the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, to deceive the people.
He prayed that the programme will succeed to bring peace and stability.
There were goodwill messages from all the consortium partners- SDN, PIND and AAPW.
The programme had in its roll call, the chief judge of Rivers State, commissioners from the various ministries, traditional rulers, top government officials, community caretaker committee chairmen, CDCs, opinion leaders and community persons drawn from various communities and local government areas in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
Highlights were the launch of the programme and traditional dance from the Rivers State ministry of Arts and Culture.
Earlier, SFCG had held a pre-launch programme with the media to announce the project launch on February 7.
Country Director of Search for Common Ground, Fatima Abubakar Madaki, disclosed to newsmen during the press conference at their office, at Elelenwo Drive, GRA, Port Harcourt, that the project is a unique paradigm shift in how stakeholders approach the complex issues of oil bunkering and security in the Niger Delta.
According to her, the new approach is a bottom-up mode, which will is billed for implementation in 666 communities in 33 local government areas with the reduction of prevalence of criminal activities in the region.
