Yenagoa, Bayelsa State – August 6, 2025 – In a renewed effort to strengthen collaboration between local communities and security institutions, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has officially launched the second phase of its Social Cohesion Building for Youth, Communities, and Government Security Actors initiative.
The launch event, held on Wednesday, August 6, in Yenagoa, marked a major step toward addressing longstanding issues of mistrust and communication breakdowns between communities and security agencies in the region.
Representing PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, the foundation’s Peacebuilding Manager, Dr. David Udofia, described the initiative as a timely response to the urgent need for trust-building and joint peace efforts.
“Peace and security partnerships are only sustainable when built on trust,” Dr. Udofia stated. “This initiative creates a safe and structured space for dialogue, truth-telling, and collaborative peace actions between communities and the institutions mandated to protect them.”
Initially piloted in 2024, the initiative is part of the European Union-funded project titled A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, being implemented in partnership with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN).
The second phase of the initiative will be rolled out in ten communities across five local government areas in Bayelsa State: Sagbama and Agbere in Sagbama LGA; Ekeremor and Toru Ndoro in Ekeremor LGA; Sampou and Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA; Igbomotoro and Opuama in Southern Ijaw LGA; and Gbarain-Toru and Agbia/Nedugo in Yenagoa LGA.
Participants from these communities, including representatives of security agencies, will engage in a series of structured workshops, informal engagements, and joint planning sessions. These activities will culminate in the co-creation and signing of Community-Security Charters—locally developed agreements that outline shared responsibilities and principles for future collaboration.
“This initiative is about rebuilding fractured relationships,” Dr. Udofia added. “We are enabling community members and security actors to interact constructively, address shared concerns, and co-create peacebuilding solutions tailored to local realities.”
The initiative received strong endorsement from local authorities. Speaking at the launch event, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Buloudisiye Ndiwari, expressed wholehearted support for the programme.
“This initiative could not have come at a more critical time,” he said. “We are proud to support a project that goes beyond rhetoric to foster real collaboration and inclusion. As a council, we are committed to backing any effort that unites our communities and strengthens peace.”
With this new phase, PIND and its partners aim to deepen local ownership of peacebuilding, enhance communication between communities and security agencies, and lay a foundation for long-term stability across Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta.
About PIND The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is a Nigerian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peacebuilding, economic growth, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta through multi-stakeholder partnerships and market-driven interventions.