Politics
THE Delta Government says it has initiated programmes geared toward addressing drug abuse and other social vices among youths in the state.
Chairman of Delta Peace Architecture (SPA), Dr Ngozi Mogbolu, stated this during the quarterly meeting of SPA on Monday in Asaba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by an international non- governmental organisation, Search For Common Ground (SFCG).
Mogbolu, also the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Youths and Development, described drug abuse as a menace and a great concern to communities in the state.
She recalled that Delta had been ranked the highest in drug abuse among the South-South states.
”This issue is a great concern. The state ministry of youths is taking some actions to check the trend.
”We have a project called the ‘E-Seven Series’ which also involves the eradication of crime and social vices.
”Last month, our ministry undertook a road show against youth’s involvement in crime and social vices.
”We followed it up by unveiling the ‘ Mid Core Value’ to inculcate positive values in them.
”These are some of the steps we have taken and will take more to promote the core values and reduce drug abuse and internet fraud known as yahoo plus,” he said.
According to him, yahoo plus has been a very serious concern and threat to peace in the state.
Mogbolu added that the ministry was partnering with Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and relevant agencies to strengthen the law and enforce arrest.
On the quarterly meeting of SPA, he said that the meeting, the third in the series, afforded its members the opportunity to brainstorm on how best to check crime and reduce conflicts in various communities across the state.
Mogbolu said that the group was making appropriate recommendations to relevant agencies to address some of the issues raised at the meeting.
Speaking, a representative of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Assistant Commandant, Ejiro Adah, said that the command created an Agro Rangers Department charged with mediating in herders-farmers crises.
Adah said that the department had done a lot, especially in resolving herders/farmers clashes in the state.
He said that the command, in collaboration with other agencies, had trained no fewer than 500 forest guards in the state to check the activities of herders and farmers.
Mr Matthew Omeka, Governance and Advocacy Officer for SFCG, said that the project, a community-centered approach for curbing criminality and violence in the Niger Delta region, was being facilitated by the organisation.
Omeka said that the goal of the 18-month programme was to ensure collaboration of communities in addressing systematic drivers of conflicts within them.
“The group is interested in creating an impact in the communities we work and ensure that they are empowered to handle some of the conflicts they have on their own.
”Communities are supposed to take this initiative. They are supposed to be drivers of the initiative, ” he said.
Omeka commended the people for the actions so far taken in their various communities, urging them not to relent.
NAN recalls that SFCG had, on June 27, inaugurated Delta SPA to strengthen dialogue on issues and conflicts in the state.
NAN also reports that SPA is expected to help stakeholders foster an inclusive approach to addressing challenges of violence, criminality and peace promotion in the area. (NAN)
A.I
Nov. 4, 2024
Tags: Dr Ngozi Mogbolu
