2025 YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL SECURITY SUMMIT

2025 YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL SECURITY SUMMIT: A Unifying Step Towards Sustainable Peace and Development In a bold and proactive move to tackle security challenges at the grassroots level, the Yenagoa Local Government Council, under the visionary leadership of Chairman Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, convened the 2025 Security Summit on 16th April at the Council Hall. The summit brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders—including traditional rulers, Community Development Committee (CDC) chairmen, youth and women leaders, and security operatives—from all communities within the Local Government Area. The summit, organized in collaboration with Search for Common Ground, was themed: “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta.” This powerful theme underscores the urgent need for inclusive dialogue and grassroots involvement in curbing rising security threats and fostering sustainable peace across the region. Delivering a compelling keynote address, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari appreciated the commitment of community leaders and stakeholders for answering the Council’s call. He emphasized Yenagoa’s central role in Bayelsa State’s stability: “It is important to call this meeting at this critical time. As we all know, Yenagoa occupies a central and prestigious position in Bayelsa State. If Yenagoa is peaceful, then Bayelsa is peaceful. Crime may seem like a natural phenomenon, but as a government, our foremost responsibility is to ensure the security of lives and property, and to enhance the welfare of our people.” The Chairman identified critical security threats currently plaguing the area, including illegal oil refining, open grazing, drug trafficking and abuse, cultism, disputes over chieftaincy and land ownership, and the activities of unauthorized scavengers. He called for a united front to confront these challenges, stressing the need for community leaders to play an active role in shaping local responses. Hon. Ndiwari further stated: “When there is peace, Yenagoa will thrive. Our Miracle Governor is transforming our state with major strides in infrastructure, education, the economy, and social empowerment. It is our responsibility to complement these efforts by promoting peace and curbing criminality within our communities.” He urged residents not to shield criminal elements but to embrace community vigilance by promptly reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies: “When you see something, say something. Our communities belong to us, and we must not allow non-state actors to take control. Traditional leaders, youth leaders, and women leaders must rise to their responsibilities and ensure their mandates are executed effectively.” Representing Search for Common Ground, Mr. Sunny Dada elaborated on the summit's broader context. He explained that the program is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by Search for Common Ground, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), and PIND (Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta). The project spans 32 LGAs and 66 communities across Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States, focusing on: Livelihood interventions Social cohesion and community empowerment Environmental protection Combatting drug abuse, cultism, kidnapping, piracy, and other social vices A significant highlight of the summit was the interactive session, where clan representatives openly shared their unique community-specific security concerns. This dialogue provided a vital platform for community voices to shape the local security agenda. The event concluded with a robust Q&A session and the formal submission of collated community recommendations to the Council Chairman—laying a strong foundation for collaborative action and local implementation moving forward. The 2025 Yenagoa LGA Security Summit marks a critical step toward sustainable peace, grassroots accountability, and shared responsibility in building a safer, more prosperous Yenagoa.