On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) visited the office of the Honorable Minister for Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja to present the Niger Delta Regional Peacebuilding Strategy (NDRPS) document and discuss plans for its validation.
In his address, PIND’s Executive Director, Tunji Idowu, recalled that the MNDA and PIND had signed a memorandum of understanding during a meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) on September 15, 2022, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to develop a regional peacebuilding infrastructure that would contribute to efforts to address conflict issues in the region, which became the NDRPS.
“The NDRPS highlights the importance of establishing an outfit that is not just security-focused but also serves the needs of the people through effective conflict prevention, resolution, and management,” Mr. Idowu said.
He also explained that on December 1, 2022, PIND and the MNDD had inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising 45 relevant stakeholders from government agencies, civil society, academia, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, amongst others, with the region to oversee the design and implementation of a strategic document focused on peacebuilding in the region.
PIND’s Peacebuilding Manager, David Udofia, who gave a progress report on the NDRPS activities to date, stated that the document had been drafted in 2023 and was currently completing a review by the MNDD ahead of a validation to take place in February 2024.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, who represented the Minister, thanked the group for the briefing. He acknowledged the Ministry’s receipt of the document.
“We were happy that a wide range of contributions was made to the document,” he said. “The Ministry will set a date to review the draft of the strategy where there will be a validation. It would also be shared as a council note at the Federal Executive Council.”
Those present at the high-level meeting included representatives of the Inspector General of the Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Others were members of the TWG, including Her Royal Majesty Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of the Anioma people of Delta State.
