Bayelsa State Govt Collaborates And Hosts UNODC, Germany To A Launch Of A New Project

LUCKY AKRA L.

 In order to fight crime in the Niger Delta region, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support of the German government is collaborating with the Bayelsa State Government to launch a project to support community based crime prevention strategies in the Niger Delta.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the programme started with a workshop to address crime and insecurity in the Niger Delta on Tuesday 21st September, 2021 at the Golden Tulip in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while the collaboration kicked off on Wednesday 22nd September, 2021, also in Bayelsa State. 

The inception meeting launched the consultative process for the development of a comprehensive community-based crime prevention strategy and action plans initially targeting selected communities across the Niger Delta region.

 The project is creating a platform of action bringing together various stakeholders including civil society organisations, traditional institutions, youth groups, local government, local law enforcement institutions, security agencies and criminal justice sector institutions.

The project kick started with endorsement of the Governor of Bayelsa State, H.E. Senator Douye Diri, accompanied by members of his cabinet, including the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor, members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, and National Assembly Members.

 Governor Diri in his opening speech, expressed the importance of targeting the root causes of crime and insecurity and to design a pan-regional response to the crisis, based on the traditional ties among the coastal communities across the Niger Delta and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

The Governor further pledged, according to him, “The Bayelsa State Government under my leadership will support and work with the UNODC in actualising this project and propose to host the Gulf of Guinea Security Conference”.

In return, the Country Representative of the UNODC Nigeria, Oliver Stolpe, expressed profound appreciation to the Bayelsa State Government for its hospitality and support.

He highlighted that UNODC for several decades had provided extensive support to both government and civil society organizations developing laws and policies, strengthen institutions, build operational capacities of security and justice sector personnel. The objective of the project was to complement these efforts by directly engaging communities at the grassroots level in addressing the factors driving crime, insecurity and impunity in the Niger Delta. 

Mr. Oliver further thanked the Government of H.E. Senator Douye Diri for inviting the UNODC and pledged to work towards achieving a “whole-of-society” approach to tackle these issues in the target communities in the Niger Delta region and build sustainable and trusting relationships between local communities and security and justice actors.

The event was also attended by King Jaja, Natural ruler of Opobo Kingdom and Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

In his remarks, speaking on behalf of Traditional Institutions and Communities, he emphasized that there is an urgent need to address the problem of drug use among young people, noting that there is a link between drug trafficking and insecurity.

Other traditional rulers present at the event included, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Ebenanaowei of Ekpetiama Clan, Bayelsa State, representative of King Spiff, Amayanabo of Twon Brass and Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Bayelsa State, welcomed the interventions and pledged to provide support to the UNODC and its project, and other relevant interventions in the Niger Delta. 

Overall, the participants at the meeting emphasized on the need to leverage the power of local communities in influencing the trajectories of young people and help them make choices that will give them their best lives.