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UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
By: Michael Mike
A new project to strengthen the Niger Delta Peace Architecture was launched in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
Joining the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, to launch the project are the Ambassador of Denmark, Sune Krogstrup and Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr. Oliver Stolpe.
The project aims to support the Government and communities in the implementation of the 2022 Bayelsa State Community-Based Crime Prevention Strategy.

According to a statement, the project will be implemented in five communities across Bayelsa State empowering them through joint security committees to manage their security environment proactively, helping to address the root causes of crime and violence and enhancing collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies building trust and fostering lasting partnerships.
The statement said the new project builds on a successfully implemented first phase which, with funding from the Government of Germany, was implemented between 2021 and 2023 and helped the Government of Bayelsa State to develop the Community Based Crime Prevention Strategy and supported its implementation in the communities of Otuan, Ikeberi 1 and Ayamasa.
Specific interventions included the refurbishment of police stations, the redeployment of police officers and their training on community-oriented policing.

The project also established youth centres and introduced Line Up Live Up, a sports-based youth crime prevention programme now being delivered by sport coaches across the three communities. Further investments were made into economic empowerment initiatives, such as a Garri processing plants and solar powered streetlights.
Diri, while welcoming the new project, stated that: “The collaborative effort with the German Government and UNODC has demonstrably improved security in Bayelsa State and we are confident that the new project, funded by the Government of Denmark, will build upon this success and further strengthen peace and security across the Niger Delta.”
Ambassador Sune Krogstrup said “Community-based crime prevention is a cornerstone of effective security strategies. We are proud to partner with the Bayelsa State government and UNODC to empower communities and promote lasting peace.”
On the occasion of the project launch, Governor Douye Diri also welcomed a delegation of ambassadors and high-level representatives of the Governments of Finland, Germany and the European Union.
The visiting delegation joined the meeting of the BRACED Commission, attended by the Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States and chaired by HE Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.
They discussed developmental and security challenges in the Niger Delta and identified opportunities for the international community to cooperate with the Governments of the Niger Delta in addressing these challenges, including through the possible expansion of the community- based crime prevention approach successfully tested in Bayelsa State.
UN, Bayelsa, Denmark Launch New Project to Strengthen Niger Delta Peace Architecture
News
KACRAN Applauds Buni’s Leadership, Cites Job Creation and Food Security Gains in Yobe
KACRAN Applauds Buni’s Leadership, Cites Job Creation and Food Security Gains in Yobe
By: Michael Mike
The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has commended Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for what it described as visionary leadership that has significantly improved job creation, food security, and overall wellbeing of citizens in the state.
In a statement signed by its National President, Khalil Mohammed Bello, the association said the desire of any society is to have a leader who prioritizes the welfare, security, and long-term prosperity of the people, noting that Governor Buni embodies such qualities.
KACRAN praised the governor’s humility and accessibility, describing him as a leader who maintains close contact with citizens to better understand their needs and challenges. According to the association, this people-oriented approach has contributed to sustained peace and unity in Yobe State.

Highlighting key achievements, the group noted that Buni’s administration has consistently invested heavily in agriculture by procuring and distributing farm inputs to farmers at subsidized rates. This, it said, has boosted food production and strengthened food security not only in Yobe but across neighboring states.
The association also lauded the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock, which it said has reinforced Yobe’s position as a leading livestock hub in Nigeria. It added that the construction of modern markets across major towns has further enhanced commercial activities within the state.
On human capital development, KACRAN pointed to the award of scholarships to thousands of students for studies within and outside Nigeria, as well as the construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to improve connectivity between rural and urban areas.
The group further commended the governor for creating employment opportunities through recruitment into the civil service and various empowerment programmes targeting youths and women.
KACRAN also acknowledged the efforts of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by Mohammed Goje, in providing relief materials to internally displaced persons and vulnerable populations affected by insurgency, floods, and other disasters.
It noted that during the ongoing Ramadan, the state government has intensified food distribution initiatives, ensuring that thousands of households receive daily support as part of broader measures to cushion economic hardship.
While stressing the importance of proactive governance, KACRAN urged other state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to emulate Yobe’s approach to investing in agriculture, human development, and security in order to avert potential food crises and improve living standards nationwide.
The association concluded that sustained commitment to these priorities would promote peace, unity, and long-term stability across the country.
KACRAN Applauds Buni’s Leadership, Cites Job Creation and Food Security Gains in Yobe
News
CDS urges Borno, Yobe residents to take ownership of fight against terror, says enemy operating from within
CDS urges Borno, Yobe residents to take ownership of fight against terror, says enemy operating from within
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has raised fresh concerns over internal complicity in the protracted insurgency in the North-East, urging residents of Borno and Yobe to take ownership of the fight against terrorism.
Oluyede’s position, articulated after a high-level security meeting in Maiduguri, signals a strategic shift in emphasis from purely kinetic military operations to community-driven counterinsurgency, as Nigeria battles the enduring threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
The meeting, which lasted about four hours, brought together top military commanders, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and other top military officials.
At the heart of the CDS’s message is a troubling reality: the insurgency is being sustained, in part, by individuals that sometimes embedded within affected communities.
According to Oluyede, intelligence reports indicate that many of those responsible for attacks over the past 15 years originate from the same communities bearing the brunt of the violence.
This assertion reinforces long-standing concerns within security circles that local knowledge terrain familiarity, social networks, and community cover has continued to provide operational advantages to insurgents.
He cited a recent example in Kukawa, where troops discovered wounded terrorists hiding within the community during post-attack clearance operations, pointing to the challenge of distinguishing between civilians and collaborators.
The dynamics complicate military efforts, as insurgents exploit familial and social ties to evade detection, making intelligence gathering more difficult despite sustained offensives.
The CDS’s call for residents to “take ownership” reflects a recognition that military القوة alone cannot decisively end the insurgency without active civilian cooperation.
Oluyede’s remarks suggest a push to recalibrate this dynamic by encouraging residents to see the fight as a collective responsibility rather than solely a government burden.
The CDS also acknowledged the evolving tactics of insurgents, particularly the increasing use of drones and other technological in attacks.
Oluyede disclosed that the Nigerian military is adapting, including the deployment of advanced drone systems to enhance surveillance, targeting, and battlefield coordination.
CDS urges Borno, Yobe residents to take ownership of fight against terror, says enemy operating from within
News
FG Pushes for Correctional Reform via Public-Private Partnership
FG Pushes for Correctional Reform via Public-Private Partnership
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s correctional system into a hub of rehabilitation, skills development, and national productivity through strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The pledge was highlighted at a stakeholders’ engagement on optimizing correctional farm centres, industries, and PPP opportunities, organized by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with civil society and development partners.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Permanent Secretary Dr. Magdalene Ajani stated that modern correctional facilities must focus not only on confinement but also on equipping inmates with practical skills for reintegration into society. “Correctional centres must evolve into institutions of transformation—where inmates are prepared to become productive members of society upon release,” she said.

Ajani emphasized the importance of PPPs in achieving this vision, describing them as critical tools for combining government oversight with private sector expertise, innovation, and investment. She added that correctional farm centres and industries could become centres of excellence in agriculture, agro-processing, and value-chain development, contributing to both inmate rehabilitation and national food security.
The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed that the Service currently operates 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries nationwide, spanning crop production, livestock, fisheries, and poultry.
He noted that collaboration with the private sector would boost productivity, introduce modern techniques, and create sustainable value chains.
Stakeholders, including representatives from government, civil society, development organisations, and the private sector, agreed on the need for actionable and scalable models to drive tangible impact.
On his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions Hon. Chinedu Ogah, called for greater accountability, innovation, and commitment in optimizing correctional farms, noting that agriculture remains a critical driver of economic growth and national security.
The engagement aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s broader reform agenda, which prioritizes institutional strengthening, economic productivity, and sustainable development. Participants were urged to leverage partnerships that transform correctional facilities into engines of productivity, reduce recidivism, and enhance community safety.
The Ministry of Interior reiterated that the success of correctional reform depends on collective action, sustained investment, and a shared commitment to building a humane and development-oriented correctional system.
FG Pushes for Correctional Reform via Public-Private Partnership
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