PIND signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
The MoU signing, held during the National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) meeting, solidifies PIND’s partnership with the MNDA to develop a regional peacebuilding infrastructure that would contribute to efforts to address conflict and security issues in the Niger Delta. As a significant player in the region’s development, PIND is a member of the technical committee of the NCND, which President Goodluck Jonathan established in 2013. The technical committee’s role is to offer technical advice to the President and State Governors in the region on regional development and coordination issues.

PIND and MNDA shall be working with CSOs, donor communities, academia, security operatives, traditional rulers, and community influencers to establish a Technical Working Group (TWG) whose role will be to develop the mechanism behind the proposed peacebuilding infrastructure.

PIND’s Program Director, Effiong Essien; Peacebuilding Program Manager, David Udofia; and Advocacy Manager, Chuks Ofulue, represented PIND at the meeting.
One of the resolutions was for the MNDA to propose an Executive bill to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to amend Sections 103 and 104 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to facilitate the remittance of Gas Flare Penalty into a Trust Fund for ease of administration.