WARRI MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORM

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Warri Multi Stakeholder Platform (MSP) is a nonpartisan peacebuilding platform established by the Foundation for the partnership initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in 2018. It has 16 members cutting across traditional rulers, State and Local Government representatives, and community representatives from the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State. Its primary aim is to hold dialogues on the drivers of violent conflict and mutually forge a pathway for addressing those issues, through appropriate conflict management mechanisms.

As part of its strategic approach of promoting peaceful co-existence among the two major ethnic groups in Warri, the MSP held the leaders’ summit in September 2021, with the theme, “Leadership Role in Fostering Peaceful Coexistence, Security and Development”. The summit in Warri, was attended by civil society organizations (CSOs), government functionaries, and politicians within the State and the three Local Government Areas, communities’ leaders and opinion leaders. The objective of the Summit was to create a platform for interactions at strategic level to further promote peaceful co- existence and dialogue amongst the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri, Delta State. Also, to harness social capital and enhance resource availability to the Warri MSP for prevention and mitigation of ethnic violence.

Lack of elite consensus; inability to learn from previous events of communal dispute from other tribes by the Ijaw and Itsekiri; inappropriate engagement of youths; absence of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism in managing conflict and lack of adequate funding to peacebuilding platform like MSP were identified as key factors that thwart socio-political and economic advancement of Warri kingdom.

The MSP members in a post review meeting made a commitment to engage elites from the two ethnic groups to come to a consensus on the composition of persons to be part of the joint investigation visits (JIV) team and communities to be visited among the two ethnic groups in the alleged oil spill in the Abiteye and Utonana Fields operated by Chevron Nigeria limited (CNL. They agreed that though their intervention had doused ethnic tension on possibility of violent conflict, the non-production of oil by the major operator in the area,), caused by lack of elite consensus, has negatively impacted the local, state and national economy.

TERMS OF REFERENCE
  • Prevent the escalation of violent conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Attempt to resolve amicably, existing or new conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State.

  • Provide information regarding actions, statements and/or conducts from persons/communities/institutions that could trigger and/or escalate violent conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Embark on advocacy, community outreach, media awareness and education to promote peaceful co-existence between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Report to the appropriate authorities (traditional rulers, security agencies and/or government institutions) conducts or action likely to inflame tensions between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

  • Embark on conflict prevention and reconciliation efforts between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities.

  • Engage with any other stakeholders or initiatives/activities aimed at promoting peace between the two ethnic groups.

  • Participate in trainings that will enhance capacity of members to deliver on role.

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SUCCESS STORIES

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