EU Brightens Hope of Survival for N’Delta Coastal Dwellers

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The European Union has offered the indigenes of coastal communities in the six states of the Niger Delta region a flicker of brightened hope of survival with planned intervention  projects.

This was made known after a two-day Inception/Advocacy Ceremony and Cooperative Planning Event of the project christened: ‘Coping (1) with Climate(2) Change(3) as a Cause(4) of Conflict(5) in Coastal(6) Communities(7) of West Africa” also known as C7-West Africa held at the Golden Tulip Hotel and Resort in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Italian Shipping Academy C7-West African Project Officer, Marco Simoncini, a representative of the EU, said the proposed projects, which would be funded by the European Union, would spread across coastal communities in the region.

 He urged the community dwellers to take advantage of the project which is intended to impact positively on their
lives.

The EU representative assured leaders of the coastal communities that there are better days ahead for the people of the region who suffer negative impact as well as conflicts that are induced by climate change.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, called on the EU to intensify their support approach in  helping  coastal communities from negative effect of climate change.

Fielding questions from journalists, leaders of coastal communities expressed optimism of better days ahead for their people who suffered negative impact, as well as, conflicts that are induced by climate change.

Also speaking, Dr. Godfrey Pondei, who is the focal person of the project, provided insight into the C7 West Africa project, stating that the Inception/Advocacy Ceremony was with a view to gaining the buy-in of targeted key state and non-state actors, intimate the public about the project, create synergies with major stakeholders and host communities in order to create an enabling institutional support.

Pondei concluded with deep appreciations to the European Union for playing the critical role of funding the initiative, while thanking the Italian Shipping Academy for appointing the Nigeria Maritime University as local implementing partner.

Also speaking, Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, who is the Security Component coordinator of C7-West Africa, added that both events were not just to kick-start the initiative, but more importantly to get commitments from state and non-state actors regarding the project, arouse awareness, popularise the nexus between climate change and conflict in coastal communities, and also to increase collaboration between partners and host communities as critical stakeholders.