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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
In a bold move to address periodic violent conflicts and marginalization in Niger Delta communities, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has officially inaugurated the first in a series of Local Government Peace building Committees (LGPCs) across Bayelsa State.
The initiative aims to institutionalize inclusive, community-led peace structures that can drive locally anchored conflict prevention and resolution.
At the inaugural meeting of the LGPC, PIND Executive Director,Sam Daibo, underscored the urgency of moving from reactive security responses to proactive, sustainable, participatory peacebuilding mechanisms.
Daibo represented by PIND Peace building Manager, David Udofia noted that most conflicts in the Niger Delta region begin at the grassroots but are rarely resolved through structured local responses.
He stated that through the peace building committees, PIND is creating inclusive platforms that bring together youth, women, traditional rulers, security agencies, and local government actors to jointly monitor, analyze, and respond to conflict.
Udofia explained that the intervention is anchored on PIND’s Prevent Council Model, a tested framework that supports the formation of durable peace structures at the local level. He emphasized the importance of local ownership, inclusion of marginalized voices, and evidence-based dialogue, particularly for engaging youth at risk and reintegrating informal actors such as ex-militants and community influencers.
“We are not just launching committee ; we are building infrastructure for lasting peace .By empowering communities with data, training, and coordinated platforms, we are transforming them from passive observers into active architects of security and development.”
The Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari,welcomed the initiative and expressed the LGs full commitment to sustaining the LGPC model.
“This platform provides us a valuable opportunity to listen, respond, and act together. It is timely and very much needed,” he said.
The LGPC initiative is part of the European Union-funded project: “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” implemented in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). The project seeks to shift away from militarized approaches and instead foster community-centered peace infrastructures across eight Local LGs in Bayelsa: Southern Ijaw, Brass, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor, and Yenagoa.
