A delegation from the European Union (EU) have inspected livelihood projects worth N11 billion in the Niger Delta region. The inspection team also included officials from EU partners like Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta and Stakeholders Democracy Network.
The projects are part of a Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta Project spread across 66 communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States. At Nedugo community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the team inspected an ongoing cassava processing factory with driers, a water tank, sewage tank, a peeling machine and other equipment to enhance cassava processing.
The EU team was made up of the programme manager, regional team lead for West Africa, Mr. Eric Pitoi and the head of Section Governance and Human Rights, Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera.
It also had the country director of Search for Common Ground, Mr. About Outtara and the country director of Stakeholders Democracy Network, Florence Abasi who inspected the project last week Tuesday. Speaking on the projects, Aguilera described the cassava processing factory as one of the largest EU investments in the Niger Delta.
He said they came to personally sight the project and also use the opportunity to discus with stakeholders from the federal, state and local communities to understand the difference the project will make. “This is one of the largest investments that the European Union is making for the benefit of the Niger Delta.
We’re here together with the partners who implemented our CRINVIN programme which is worth over N11 billion. “We came to see with our own eyes some of the investments that have taken place in the communities such as the one we’re visiting today.
And we also have the opportunity to discuss with the different stakeholders, federal, state authorities as well as and local leaders and the communities themselves to understand how this project is making a difference for them, and is trying to address the insecurity challenge that they are facing,” he said.
