The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has asked for urgent and joint efforts to stop the rising problem of communal conflicts affecting farming and investment in the region.
This call was made during a meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event brought together people from government, private businesses, farmers, herder groups, community leaders, civil society, the media, and development partners.
PIND shared a report showing that over 800 people have died in communal conflicts between 2014 and 2024. Most of these fights were caused by land disputes, poor leadership, and economic hardship.
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Dr. David Udofia, who works with PIND, said that peace is necessary for farming and development to grow. He said that communities need safety and stability to attract investors and improve lives.
Many speakers at the event said that land disputes are a big cause of violence because land is important for farming, culture, and community identity. They also said the laws on land use and grazing are not well enforced.
People are also worried about the rise in illegal weapons and the use of armed escorts to transport farm goods. They said this shows how unsafe the region has become.
PIND talked about a special peace plan called the Niger Delta Regional Peacebuilding Strategy (NDRPS), created with help from the Federal Government. If put into action, it could reduce conflicts and help farming succeed.
At the end of the meeting, the group gave several suggestions: improve early warning systems, support peace-focused farming investments, fix land and grazing laws, train local peacemakers, and guide the media to report conflicts in a peaceful way.
They also asked the government to quickly launch and use the peace plan to bring lasting peace and growth to the region.
