TheCable

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), says there is a need for more collaboration among stakeholders in the region to address poverty and conflicts.

Tunji Idowu, executive director of PIND, who spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of the board of partners for peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, an initiative of the foundation, said those in private, public and social sectors; the civil society organisations (CSOs) must work together to proffer solutions.

 “If there are economic challenges there will be the likelihood of conflict ensuing. If people are not able to find ways to improve their livelihood or sustain the current one some will open themselves to crime so the government has to address the root causes,” he said.

“Some of our programmes were designed to address these even before the current economic challenges. We need to have all partners work together, stretch the limited resources, and eliminate duplications and redundancies. We need everyone coming together to address the issues in the region.”

Idowu, the chairman of the new board of P4P, said the present board would build on the achievements of the previous one. 

“This current board will build on the accomplishment of the previous board. Through the efforts of PIND, P4P and other stakeholders, the region is more stable than before,” he added. 

Also, David Udofia, PIND’s peace-building programme manager, called for collaboration to sustain peace in the region. 

“Everybody in the country has a role to play to restore peace in the Niger Delta. All stakeholders must come on board in sustaining the peace in the region,” Udofia said.

“The economic development of Nigeria cannot take place without peace. Rather than shift the blame completely to the government we should look at the role we can play to restore peace for the region.”

Heoma Nsirim-Worlu, a member of the board and director of the Centre For Gender, Conflict and Development Studies, University of Port Harcourt, said the government has a role to play in restoring peace in the region.

 “The Niger Delta should be considered as an endangered region. The people of the region are impoverished and challenged,” she said.

“Government has a role to play in restoring the region. There should also be attitudinal change from the people of the region.”

Members of the new P4P board include Tunji Idowu as the chairman; Heoma Nsirim-Worlu;  Bridget Affiah, James Asuquo; and John Abraham Godson.