Community policing has been described as critical to guaranteeing peace and security in the Niger Delta region.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, made this assertion during a briefing session with the leadership of Search for Common Ground, Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN), and the Partnership Initiative for Development in the Niger Delta (PIND) in Asaba who are winding up their 18-month peace-building programme in Delta State.
To ensure sustainability of peace-building efforts in the State, Dr. Emu urged Search for Common Ground officials to deepen synergy with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
He emphasized that stronger collaboration with NGOs and MDAs would bring greater seriousness to the programme, foster government ownership, and guarantee continuity of peace initiatives.
The SSG noted that community policing has the potential to nip criminality in the bud while empowering grassroots communities to take ownership of their development.
In his remarks, Mr. Chorbe Joshua, Consortium Manager of Search for Common Ground, explained that the session with key government officials provided a platform to present project achievements, share sustainability strategies, and strengthen collaboration with the Delta State Government.
He added that, with the programme set to conclude in two months, the briefing was timely for consolidating key outcomes and ensuring a smooth transition toward long-term contributions to the Peace and Security Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
The Search for Common Ground and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging a community-centered approach to tackle criminality and violence in the Niger Delta region.
