Amidst mounting tensions in the Niger Delta region, the Pan Niger Delta Elder’s Forum (PANDEF) assembled to act as a mediating body between citizens and government.

A summit was held on November 1st 2016 where the PANDEF presented a 16-Point Agenda titled ‘Solving Niger Delta Issues by Dialogue’ as minimum preconditions for peace and security in the region. In response, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo initiated a series of high-level political engagements with a range of government and non-government leaders across eight Niger Delta states (only Ondo remains outstanding).

A directive was issued calling for an Implementation Work Plan to address the critical development issues raised during his visit and those highlighted by PANDEF in the 16-Point Agenda submitted to the Government.
Following this call, a cross-government technical group comprising of directors from the a range of Federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) – the Ministry of Niger Delta Afairs; Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Ministry of Environment; NDDC; Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; and the Presidential Amnesty Programme – as well as six PANDEF representatives, was constituted to commence drafting this Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP).