About Five Thousand Persons Now Beneficiaries: Mignot

 

Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS,  has revealed that about five thousand persons have so far  benefited from the livelihood  project being carried out by Search for Common Ground with support from the European Union in the Niger Delta Region.

Recall that the project is about Peace-building, resilience, reduction in violence, criminality and livelihood  which is cut across the Nige Delta Region.

Speaking on  Wednesday during a courtesy visit  on Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State in Government House, Yenagoa, Mignot who said the delegation's visit  was to assess the progress of the project which was going  on in sixteen communities across the state’s eight local government areas, maintained that  EU had supported many projects in Nigeria in the last decades.

He said in 2021, it launched globally a new cooperation strategy called the Global Gateway and the union was expected to leverage more on investments in Nigeria working in partnership with its 27 member states.

He also stated that in 2023, the EU launched in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states tailor-made projects with 6.5 million euros and implemented through its partners, Search For Common Grounds.

Mignot said: "We are  here  to assess the progress of the project which  is taking place in 16 communities across the state’s eight local government areas."

"About 5000 persons have benefited from the project, which is about peace-building, resilience, reduction in violence, criminality and livelihood.

"We extended our stay in the Niger Delta to make sure that we  meet all our objectives and  we expended all the money that was committed for this objective by the European Union and we have  particularly achieved the livelihood project requested by the communities.

"In 2023, we launched a project here in the Niger Delta with states like Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States being the beneficiaries  with  6.5 Euros implemented through our partners who are here with us today; Search for Common Ground, SDN and PIND. The project  is about Peace building, residence and reduction of violence and criminality and livelihood. 

"We hope very well, that state authorities will enthusiastically take over at the end of the project and continue with the necessary legislation of architectural things  and possibly continue with the implementation  of these projects.

"And now, we hope that you will work the part of Peace and Prosperity in the rest of these communities and in the rest of the state." Mignot said.

Speaking earlier, Governor  Douye Diri, has advised the European Union to retool its approach for its impact to be more noticeable in the oil region of Niger Delta.

Governor Diri said the  EU had spent huge financial resources on development initiatives in the region over the years but noted that the communities barely felt the effect of such projects.

He said: "It is amazing the amount of money the EU has committed to development of the Niger Delta region, particularly in Bayelsa State. But compared with the impact of such projects on communities, I believe the EU needs to look inwards.

"We do not know your processes but I think the impact of such projects would be more seen on communities in Bayelsa and its neighbouring Rivers and Delta states if properly channelled. Likewise, if other development partners toe the path of the EU, the ties would have been stronger."

On its new Global Gateway strategy, the Bayelsa governor said his administration would work closely with the Union to sustain the peace in the region and address developmental challenges.

Describing the EU as grassroots-oriented development partners, Diri expressed the optimism that the leadership of Amb. Mignot would add more value to development of the region.

He also commended the cordial relationship with Bayelsa, which resulted in robust discussions with the EU in Abuja about a year ago on peace-building efforts, security in the Gulf of Guinea, youth engagement, technical and vocational education and marine and blue economy. 

"There was a period of insecurity due to militancy in the Niger Delta, which was actually in response to the level of under-development against the backdrop of the oil resources that had been taken from our state and region. 

"But, this is the time not to engage in violence but in diplomacy. That is why we are ready to keep the peace in our state and region to sustain the development we are witnessing."

At a state dinner held in honour of the delegation on Wednesday night, Governor Diri conferred the state’s citizenship on the EU envoy.

He said: "Bayelsa is the cradle of the ijaw nation and the epicenter of the Niger Delta. A visit to the Niger Delta without a visit to Bayelsa is incomplete.”

In his welcome address, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, said Bayelsa cherished the partnership and collaboration of the EU and will continue to sustain it.