To ensure the sustainability of community-led stability, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has pledged its full support toward strengthening grassroots peace mechanisms within the Ugboland Host Community Development Trust (HCDT). This commitment followed a high-level advocacy visit by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and the Ugboland HCDT Peacebuilding Committee to the NSCDC Ondo State Command, marking a milestone in integrating local conflict-resolution frameworks with formal state security structures.

The engagement, held at the Command’s Headquarters in Akure following the inauguration of the Ugboland HCDT Peacebuilding Committee, underscores a strategic shift toward an integrated security approach. Under this model, community-based peacebuilding mechanisms are reinforced by the technical and operational support of state security agencies.

As infrastructure and agricultural projects under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) transition from planning to execution, maintaining a secure environment is paramount. The PIND delegation, led by Peacebuilding Program Manager Dr. David Udofia, met with State Commandant CC Ibiloye Oluyemi Joshua, JP, to align the HCDT’s objectives with the NSCDC’s statutory mandate.

“This partnership is a pivotal step toward establishing a robust framework for social cohesion,” said Dr. Udofia. “Collaborating with the NSCDC ensures that community-led tools for grievance management are supported by a coordinated response system that protects both the inhabitants and the region’s critical infrastructure.”

In response, State Commandant CC Ibiloye emphasized the significance of proactive engagement over reactive policing. He noted that the Command’s mission to protect critical national assets, specifically oil and gas infrastructure is significantly enhanced when community leaders are empowered as frontline peacebuilders.

“Our partnership with community leaders via the PIND framework is a proactive measure,” the Commandant stated. “It allows us to safeguard national assets while simultaneously fostering transparent corporate-community relationships.”

Dr. Ibukun Omotehinse, Chairman of the Ugboland HCDT Advisory Board, expressed appreciation for the Corps’ support. He utilized the forum to clarify the Trust’s governance role while soliciting the NSCDC’s continued partnership as a primary contact point for peace and security within the Ilaje Local Government Area.

As the Niger Delta navigates complex socio-economic shifts, the synergy between PIND and the NSCDC serves as a scalable model for other host communities. It demonstrates that the protection of livelihoods and the safeguarding of infrastructure are mutually reinforcing goals. By fostering this “bottom-up” security model, PIND and the NSCDC are establishing the stable foundation necessary for the Ugboland HCDT to deliver on its promise of sustainable community development.