CEPEJ INAUGURATES WARRI PEACE COMMITTEE, UNVEILS GRASSROOTS PROGRAMMES TO ADDRESS ETHNIC TENSIONS

 

CEPEJ INAUGURATES WARRI PEACE COMMITTEE, UNVEILS GRASSROOTS PROGRAMMES TO ADDRESS ETHNIC TENSIONS

The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has taken a significant step toward fostering sustainable peace in Warri with the inauguration of the Warri Indigenes and Residents Peacebuilding Committee. The initiative also featured the rollout of strategic grassroots programmes aimed at strengthening unity among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.

The event, held during the committee’s maiden peace-building meeting, brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including community leaders, government representatives, market unions, civil society organizations, security agencies, and non-indigenous residents. The gathering underscored a collective commitment to preventing future conflicts and rebuilding trust across the oil-rich city.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Sheriff Mulade, emphasized that lasting peace in Warri can only be achieved through deliberate and inclusive efforts. He highlighted the need to de-escalate tensions, promote neutrality, and strengthen information-sharing mechanisms, urging stakeholders to adopt advocacy-driven approaches that encourage coexistence rather than division.

A seven-member executive committee was inaugurated to lead the initiative, with Mr. Chuks Awogu appointed as Chairman. Other members include Toriitseju Igbiaye (Co-Chairman I), Eburu Emuaghogho (Co-Chairman II), Erediegha Precious (Co-Chairwoman III), Comrade Hilda Amogha (Spokesperson), and Mrs. Hajara Abubakar (Secretary).

Mulade charged the newly inaugurated executives to rise above ethnic affiliations and remain steadfast in their commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and justice, noting that peace is a fundamental driver of development.

He further acknowledged the efforts of the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, stressing that sustained peace is essential for attracting investment and stimulating economic growth within the state.

Also speaking, Abbey Kalio, Coordinator of SID Warri, urged the committee to remain focused on its mandate and avoid unnecessary distractions that could undermine its objectives.

As part of its broader peacebuilding agenda, CEPEJ unveiled a series of capacity-building initiatives, including stakeholder training sessions, community engagements, advocacy campaigns, and inter-ethnic familiarization visits. These programmes are designed to deepen dialogue, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen relationships among Warri’s diverse communities.

Mulade also issued a strong appeal to individuals and groups who benefit from or sponsor crises to desist and instead channel their efforts into productive ventures that create employment opportunities for youths.

He reaffirmed that no form of conflict can displace the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups from Warri, emphasizing that violence only results in unnecessary loss of lives, while peace creates opportunities for collective growth and development.

He further called on traditional and political leaders to actively support and promote peaceful coexistence as a pathway to attracting investment and driving development in Warri and its environs.

Earlier, CEPEJ Administrative Manager, Tina Agidi, outlined the meeting’s agenda, presenting a structured roadmap of programmes aimed at promoting harmony, while Senior Programme Officer, Samuel Ideh, reminded participants of Warri’s long-standing history of inter-ethnic cooperation and the benefits of sustained peaceful collaboration.

With the inauguration of the committee and the launch of community-focused programmes, CEPEJ’s intervention is widely regarded as a timely and practical step toward reducing tensions and laying a solid foundation for enduring peace in Warri.