Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has advised the European Union to retool its approach for its impact to be more noticeable in the Niger Delta.
Diri said EU had spent huge financial resources on development initiatives in the region over the years, but stated that the communities barely felt the effect of such projects.
The governor spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, to Government House, Yenagoa.
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 governor said his administration would work closely with the Union to sustain the peace in the region and address development challenges.
Describing EU as a grassroots-oriented development partner, Diri expressed optimism that the leadership of Mignot would add more value to development of the region.
He commended the cordial relationship with Bayelsa, which resulted in robust discussions with 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.
Diri stated, “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.”
In his remarks, Mignot said 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, 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 about 5,000 persons had benefited from the project, which was about peace-building, resilience, reduction in violence, criminality and livelihood.
He said the visit was to assess the progress in 16 communities across the state’s eight local government areas.
At a state dinner held in honour of the delegation on Wednesday night, 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, Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, said Bayelsa State cherished EU’s partnership and collaboration and will continue to sustain it.
Olusegun Samuel
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