The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has expressed concern over the rising spate of communal conflicts in the region, warning that the unrest is threatening agricultural investment and food security.

At a high-level roundtable held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the group urged coordinated action from government agencies, the private sector, traditional rulers, civil society and other stakeholders to stem the tide of violence.

According to PIND, over 800 deaths were recorded between January 2014 and December 2024 in communal clashes across the region, mostly triggered by land disputes, poor governance and social inequality.

“These conflicts are not just claiming lives, they are disrupting food systems and driving away much-needed agricultural investment,” said Dr David Udofia, PIND’s Peacebuilding Programme Manager.

Participants at the roundtable cited weak enforcement of policies, such as the open grazing ban and poor dispute resolution mechanisms as key contributors to the lingering crisis.

The proliferation of arms and the growing use of armed escorts for transporting farm produce were also flagged as signs of deepening insecurity.

PIND warned that without urgent intervention, the situation could spiral further, crippling the region’s economy and worsening unemployment and poverty.

But it called on authorities to implement the Niger Delta Regional Peacebuilding Strategy (NDRPS) as a long-term solution.

The group also advocated reforms in land use policy, arms control, and the strengthening of community-based peace mechanisms.

It stressed the need for better data collection to guide responses and for the media to adopt conflict-sensitive reporting.

PIND further appealed to the Ministry of Regional Development and state governments in the Niger Delta to fast-track the launch of the NDRPS framework, which it described as a critical tool for achieving lasting peace.

The group emphasised the need to involve local communities, traditional institutions, and security agencies such as the NSCDC in peacebuilding efforts to safeguard lives, investments, and livelihoods.