By Abbas Nazil
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has called for immediate and coordinated action from stakeholders to address the ongoing communal conflicts jeopardizing agricultural investment and productivity in the region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure, Ondo State, by PIND’s Knowledge Management and Communications Manager, Anne Ihugba, the foundation expressed deep concern over the adverse impact of communal crises on the agricultural sector in the Niger Delta.
The statement followed a high-level roundtable convened by PIND in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, themed “The Impact of Communal Conflicts on Agricultural Investments in the Niger Delta.”
During the roundtable, key stakeholders, development partners, and community representatives gathered to deliberate on the intersection of insecurity and underdevelopment, particularly how recurring communal clashes hinder growth in agriculture, a vital sector in the region.
Dr. David Udofia, PIND’s Peacebuilding Programme Manager, emphasized that sustainable agricultural development can only be achieved in a secure and peaceful environment.
He urged stakeholders to act swiftly in addressing the root causes of communal conflicts to pave the way for agricultural investment and prosperity.
“There is an urgent need to confront the nexus between conflict and underdevelopment; we must strengthen systems that promote peace and prosperity side by side.
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Agricultural investment can only thrive in a secure and stable environment,” Udofia stated.
To mitigate the effects of the conflicts and safeguard agricultural investments, participants at the roundtable proposed a number of strategic interventions.
These include enhancing early warning and response mechanisms such as the PIND Peace Map, which provides real-time conflict tracking and mapping, and encouraging peace impact investments that not only promote development but also directly address conflict-related risks.
Additional recommendations from the meeting included policy reforms on land use, arms control, and open grazing; strengthening local dispute resolution mechanisms; and improving conflict-sensitive media practices through the creation of a regional media charter.
Participants also stressed the urgency of launching and implementing the Niger Delta Regional Peacebuilding Strategy (NDRPS) framework, both at the federal and state government levels.
PIND urged the Ministry of Regional Development and state governments in the Niger Delta to take ownership of and operationalize the peacebuilding framework, highlighting its potential to contribute to long-term regional stability and foster an environment conducive to sustainable agricultural growth.
Furthermore, the foundation emphasized the importance of involving grassroots actors, including local communities, traditional rulers, and security agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, in proactive conflict prevention and resolution.
Such multi-stakeholder engagement, PIND noted, is crucial for building a resilient agricultural economy in the Niger Delta.
