The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been urged to strengthen its conflict-prevention structures to ensure sustainable peace and development in the region.
The call was made by Professor Isaac Albert, a Peace and Conflict Studies expert at the University of Ibadan, during the opening of a four-day retreat for the NDDC’s Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution held on Thursday .
Speaking on the theme, “Effective Early Warning System for Conflict Prevention: A Key in Advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region,” Albert stressed that the commission must build a credible, data-driven Early Warning System (EWS) capable of predicting and preventing crises rather than merely documenting them.
He warned that without functional early-warning mechanisms, the NDDC’s efforts to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would stall.
Albert argued that many peacebuilding initiatives in the Niger Delta fail because key stakeholders—such as youths, market women, local governments, and oil companies—are often excluded from planning and monitoring processes.
This exclusion, he said, widens gaps between government initiatives and grassroots realities, fuelling mistrust.
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Representing NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Special Assistant Hon. Ibarakumo Otobo said the commission recognises the importance of early detection in conflict prevention.
He noted that issues such as flooding and environmental pollution frequently escalate because communities are not adequately informed or prepared, adding that new strategies are being rolled out to mitigate risks.
Acting Director of the DCR Department, Ogedegebe Godwin, described an effective EWS as “a lifeline” for detecting tension early.
Presenters at the retreat highlighted long-standing regional problems, while Dr Temitope Bello emphasised that trust and information-sharing remain central to any successful conflict-prevention strategy.
