Delta State Government has said the state was enjoying relative peace due to its systematic and strategic measures in handling conflict situations in the state.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made the disclosure in Asaba at the formal inauguration and capacity strengthening of Conflict Prevent Council in Cross River, Delta and Akwa Ibom States by the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND).
Aniagwu, who was represented by the state Director of Information, Mrs Theresa Adiabua-Oliko, said that the effort of the state government in handling conflicts between and among communities had resulted in over 85 percent success rate.
He said that the state had received over 100 cases of conflicts from communities across the state, ranging from land disputes to chieftaincy disagreements, adding that the state had succeeded because the government gave peace-building effort prime place in its SMART Agenda.
To this end, the commissioner said that the government had established the Office of Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in addition to the setting up of a 42- man advisory council, comprised of prominent Deltans from the 25 local government areas of the state.
He noted that the essence of the structures were to assist the state government in achieving peace in all communities in the state, saying that it had helped in the development and progress recorded in the state.
Aniagwu listed some communities where conflicts had been successfully resolved to include Obecha and Oboma/Ibere Communities in Ndokwa East; Ellu Kingdom in Isoko North; and Emede, Igbidi and Uzere in Isoko South, among others.
He described the PIND initiative as laudable and another innovation aimed at strengthening efforts at entrenching sustainable peaceful environment in the state and assured of the state government’s support.
The three day programme which is featuring training sessions and capacity strengthening had as its theme: “Strengthening Community Structures for Sustainable Peace and Security in the Niger Delta”.
It has in attendance security agencies, traditions rulers and community leaders, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) Civil Society Organisations (CSO), and relevant government agencies, among others.
The Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta is a nonprofit organisation that promotes peace and equitable economic growth in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region through multi-stakeholder partnership.
PIND implements collaborative market-based, community-owned programmes to mitigate conflicts and boost economic opportunities for local businesses, ensuring that economic progress occurs in a systematic, inclusive and sustainable manner
