You are here: > The Issues > Strengthening Transparency and Accountability > STAND goes from strength to strength

STAND goes from strength to strength but official responses remain poor

Participants at the Elebele STAND centre

Spring 2010 - STAND (Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in the Niger Delta) is a civil society initiative aimed at improving governance in Nigeria, with a focus on local government in the Niger Delta region.

Funded by DFID and managed by SDN and its local partner organisations, STAND is using access to information and modern technology to empower 19 local communities to stand up for their rights.

STAND has six internet enabled community centres located across the Niger Delta run by local community committees. By providing trainings in empowerment, computer literacy, organisational skills, lobbying and advocacy the community groups are starting to understand their rights and to approach their LGA (Local Government Area) and oil company representatives about development issues that affect their lives.

Here we look at some of the key progress that has been made over the previous months and highlight the challenges of making Government, oil companies, and development agencies in the region sit up and take note.

Promoting community engagement

The past few months have involved a major step up in the promotion of the STAND centres and in raising awareness amongst the communities. As well as the general sensitisation programmes this has included a 45 minute radio show in Port Harcourt and a carnival in Elebele which gained coverage on Africa Independent Television.

Strengthening of STAND Management Committees

Coupled with this promotion and outreach the STAND centres Management Committees are being strengthened and trained in order to make the centres more sustainable in the long-term.

The Management Committee of the Bodo Centre has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gokana Local Government Council to train 20 youths in basic computer skills and is in discussions with a private construction company working in their community on the possibilities of employing local people.

Also the management committee of the Oporoza STAND centre has discovered a budget allocation for the construction of a Health Centre in the community which was has not been built and has decided to make the abandoned project an advocacy issue with the Delta State Ministry of Heath.

Abuja community pressures for health centre and skills programme

In Abuja community recent advocacy visits were made to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and National Directorate for Employment (NDE) in order to try to secure a health centre and the development of a skill acquisition programme for youths and women from the area.

The Advocacy Committee also met with the Chairman and Secretary of Port Harcourt Local Government Area who promised to work towards improving the living conditions in the community.

The Community is still awaiting the response of NDDC to their letter. However, RSSDA has informed them that they will be included in the next youth skill acquisition programme to be organised by the agency.

Akala Olu lobbies oil company Agip

Another community that is resolute on its advocacy campaign is Akala Olu in Ahoada West LGA. Akala Olu has been a host to the Agip oil company since 1972 and has a permanent gas flare in the village that causes respiratory problems and pollution. The community claims it has suffered gross neglect from both Agip and the Local Government Council for decades.

The Akala Olu peace and advocacy group wrote to Agip and their representatives at the state and federal legislatures and the local council chairman to propose a dialogue of all stakeholders to address some of the basic development needs of the community.

Although no responses have been received, SDN and its partner SPIN are in the process of lobbying for a positive response from the company.

Calls from Obunagha fall on deaf ears

The youth leaders of Obunagha have written several advocacy letters highlighting the need for the development of the community which is host to the Gbarain-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas Project.

Among issues of concern were an abandoned road project, the absence of potable drinking water and the building of a community centre. The effort of the youths was also targeted at addressing the information gap and tension between the community and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), operators of the facility.

The first letter was written to the state coordinating office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The youths asked for an appointment to discuss the abandoned solar water project and the development of youth empowerment programmes.

A second letter was sent to the chairman of Project Advisory Committee (PAC) of the Gbarain-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas Project based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The female youths in Obunagha also approached Hanover Energy Services, who operate in the area, asking for jobs for local women.

Hanover Energy Services informed the female youths during a follow-up visit that there is no employment slot for female workers at that point in time. There has not been any response from NDDC nor the Project Advisory Committee (PAC).

Looking forward

The STAND project is now well established in the Niger Delta and community ownership and use is growing steadily.

The understanding of the need for Transparency and Accountability in the actions of local government is clear amongst the people.

Increasingly the communities are prepared to effectively engage in dialogue with those they see as being able to help them achieve their aims of progression, peace and development.

Making those with the power to make a difference responsive and accountable is proving to be an uphill struggle and one that needs supporting and reinforcing every step of the way.