The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 introduced the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) as a landmark reform to guarantee statutory benefits for oil and gas host communities. Each Settlor (licensed oil and gas company operating in or near host communities) is mandated to contribute 3% of its previous year's operating ...

In 2024, we stood alongside communities, governments, civil society, and the private sector to drive real change across the Niger Delta, advancing environmental justice, inclusion, and sustainable development. Key Highlights:

• Over 1,600 women and women-led businesses gained digital skills and career support, helping to bridge the gender digital divide.
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Crime and violence in the Niger Delta are not just byproducts of poverty but are deeply rooted in political manipulation, economic inequality, and systemic exploitation. For years, the region’s vast oil wealth has contrasted starkly with the harsh realities of its people: high unemployment, systemic underdevelopment, extensive environmental degradation, and ...

We are thrilled to share our Inclusion documentary, which highlights the key achievements of the ‘Deepening Accountability and Strengthening Inclusion’ (DASI) project. Through advocacy engagements, the WEYOU Ambassadors and CSO working groups have been amplifying critical issues and demands as captured in the Women and Youth Agenda. These efforts have ...

SDN supports those affected by the extractives industry and weak governance. We work with communities and engage with governments, companies and other stakeholders to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to a healthy environment. Our work currently focuses on the Niger Delta. This project is ...

The Digital sector in Nigeria is rapidly growing, driving economic development and creating job opportunities across the country. However, as in many parts of the world, gender inequality persists in the digital economy, leaving women and girls behind.Our latest research, conducted from May to June 2023, delves into this issue ...

Multiple taxation report is one of the biggest issues for women and young people in Rivers State. Our research found that the current system disproportionately harms them, prompting a call for greater awareness about the impacts on their lives and the need for reform by the Rivers State Government (RSG) ...

Overview The Environmental Performance Index analyses annual emissions by oil-producing companies operating in the Niger Delta, the oil and gas-producing region of Nigeria. This includes total emissions and comparisons between companies, states, and countries – specifically oil spills and gas flaring. In 2020, Nigeria was the world’s 10th largest oil producer, ...

We are proud to publish SDN annual report for the year 2023. As we reflect on the past year, we are proud to share with you the progress, achievements, and impact of our work in promoting environmental justice, sustainable livelihoods, good governance and peace and security in the Niger ...

Overview The Environmental Performance Index analyses annual emissions by oil producing companies operating in the Niger Delta, the oil and gas producing region of Nigeria. This includes total emissions and comparisons between companies, states, and countries. In 2020, Nigeria was the world’s 10th largest oil producer, and according to this ...

This Handbook outlines practical approaches to implement the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) section of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), so that all stakeholders shall benefit from it, and any negative impacts can be mitigated. The Handbook would be a useful resource for all stakeholders involved in establishing and running ...

Biannual Progress Report: July-December 2022 In 2020, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) commenced the Independent Civil Society Monitoring of the Ogoniland Cleanup project with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and working in partnership with a range of civil society ...

Biannual Progress Report January-June 2022 In 2020, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) commenced the Independent Civil Society Monitoring of the Ogoniland Cleanup project with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and working in partnership with a range of civil society ...

SDN has worked with SOAS University of London (UK) to help map links between artisanal oil refining and other livelihoods, and highlight the ‘benefits’ or incentive structures of those involved in this informal economy.Artisanal oil refining in the Niger Delta is a damaging activity that has caused pollution and harm ...

Biannual progress report July–December 2021 In 2020, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) commenced the Independent Civil Society Monitoring of the Ogoniland Cleanup project with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and working in partnership with a range of civil society ...

This report explores the trends, drivers, and implications of international oil companies (IOCs) selling off assets to Nigerian domestic oil companies (DOCs). Our analysis of investment trends illustrates that divestments have been ongoing for decades, but the rate is rapidly accelerating. For the first time since production began sixty years ...

Biannual progress report January–June 2021 In 2020, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) commenced the Independent Civil Society Monitoring of the Ogoniland Cleanup project with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and working in partnership with a range of civil society ...

Untangling the dependencies that prevent it ending Summary Initiated in June 2009, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has become an enduring institution. Initially it was conceived as a short-term mechanism for de-escalating and defusing the militant insurgency that destabilised the oil-rich Niger Delta over the preceding decade, and was also ...

Summary This report is based on research in Rivers State, Nigeria, on the status of civic space, and the implications for individuals and organisations seeking to defend and expand civil and political rights. This research was undertaken as part of a wider project to increase collaboration between different civil society ...

A review of 2017-2020 Summary This report summarises key findings from a series of research surveys conducted by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) between September 2017 and January 2020. These surveys were carried out in the Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. The purpose of this research was to: ...

April 2019–September 2019 Summary This report summarises the results of a public perception survey (PPS) carried out by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) in three Niger Delta States – Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers. The purpose of the PPS is to understand local-level concerns about security in the region, and priorities for ...

April 2019–September 2019 Summary This report summarises the results of a public perception survey (PPS) carried out by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) in three Niger Delta States—Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers. The purpose of the PPS is to understand local-level concerns about security in the region, and priorities for addressing security-related ...

How can financial transparency initiatives help ensure a fair deal for communities in the Niger Delta? Summary Improvements to financial transparency in the oil and gas sector are particularly helpful in Nigeria, a country with a large oil industry based in the Niger Delta, but little transparency in how revenues ...

A comparative assessment of the environmental performance of 43 oil companies operating in Nigeria in 2018. In 2018 alone, more than 25,000 barrels—4 million litres—of oil were spilled in the Niger Delta, and nearly half a billion cubic feet of gas was flared. But how do the oil companies involved ...

Summary This report provides a comparative assessment of the environmental performance of 43 oil companies operating in Nigeria in 2018. This is the first environmental performance index (the Index) by SDN. It is based on the amount of oil spilled and gas flared (burnt off) by each company in the ...

Obstacles, opportunities, and a framework for change Obstacles and opportunities This report documents and explains some of the legal, technical, administrative, and socio-political barriers to the effective implementation of the compensation system. The purpose of doing so is to help identify a practical plan and realistic approach to change the ...

Summary The history of oil pollution in Nigeria is long and traumatic. The Nigerian oil industry, which has produced and exported high quality crude for over 50 years, drives the Nigerian economy. The inhabitants of the Niger Delta, the country’s principal oil-producing region, have suffered the impact of oil spills ...

Summary This report outlines key actions that would contribute to making the oil spill compensation system in Nigeria fairer and more transparent for all. It is based on analysis of the challenges with the compensation system identified in the SDN research report The Nigerian oil spill compensation system: obstacles and ...

An analysis of official and unofficial petroleum products in the Niger Delta Summary This report compares differences in the standards of, and emissions from, official fuels in licensed filling stations, and unofficial fuels produced by artisanal oil refineries across Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The analysis aims to improve upon ...

Summary A combination of intimidation, inducement, and violence spanning the electoral period damaged the freedom, fairness, and credibility of the 2019 Governorship election in Bayelsa State. However, most voters, INEC officials, security services, and civil society organisations are to be commended for their efforts to maintain a peaceful election. Prior ...

For over 15 years, SDN has worked with communities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta, tackling issues related to the impact of the oil and gas sector on the region. During this time, we have investigated security issues in the region relating to political unrest—in particular, around elections, militancy (including ...

October 2018-March 2019 Summary This report presents the findings of the latest public perceptions survey (PPS), carried out by SDN in three Niger Delta states—Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. The purpose of the PPS is to understand local-level concerns about security in the region, and priorities for addressing security-related issues. The ...

Report summary This report assesses the status and trend of women’s participation in politics as citizens and as holders of political positions in the Niger Delta. It is based on research undertaken in three states—Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers—as part of the More Women in Governance project, led by Stakeholder ...

A civil society report on the conduct of the Nigerian elections In early 2019, Nigeria held its sixth cycle of elections since its restoration of democracy in 1999. This included two main sets of elections: Presidential and National Assembly polls, in February (after a week-long postponement, announced during the ...

March 2018 - September 2018 Summary This report presents the results of a public perceptions survey, carried out by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states. It focuses on citizens’ perceptions of the current security situation in the Niger Delta, and views on the actors and interventions ...

Released on 19/04/19 This is scheduled to be the final full weekly report from Niger Delta Watch 2019. It covers incidents where data is available for the end of the reporting period, the last week (25 – 31) of March. This report also includes a summary of the elections ...

October 2017 - March 2018 Summary This report presents the results of a public perceptions survey, carried out by SDN in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states. It focuses on citizens’ perceptions of the current security situation in the Niger Delta, and views on the actors and interventions aiming to address ...

Released on 21/03/19 The Governorship polls on the weekend of the 09-10 March took place in difficult circumstances. Rivers State in particular was characterised by serious problems at every stage of the poll, with varying degrees of intensity across different local governments. Given the seriousness of the problems there, ...

Released on 04/03/19 Niger Delta Watch and SDN observed the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom, reporting on a range of issues affecting the polls. Overall, there was significant delay, disruption and interference in the polls and during collation. In particular, several LGAs ...

Released on 21/02/19 The major event this weekend was the last-minute postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to take place on Saturday 16 February.

Our Observers tracked the stalling of key elections materials distribution at the Central Bank in Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. In ...

Released on 11/02/18 This is the ninth edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019.

During the week of 28 January, with less than two weeks until the Presidential and National Assembly elections, particularly in Rivers State, major campaign activities are being carried out by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while ...

Released on 04/02/19 This is the eighth edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019.

This week’s report includes a thematic analysis of cult-related incidents that have occurred since the start of the project in November 2018.

In Rivers, over the last week, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ...

Released on 28/01/19 This is the seventh edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019.

In the last week, campaigns picked up in all of the states without a noticeable increase in violence or clashes. A theme this week in all of the project states has been vote buying, of which there ...

Released on 21/01/19 This is the sixth edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019.

This week we focus on incidents of electoral fraud and corruption that have occurred in the four project states since the beginning of project. We discover that the most common type of fraudulent incident relates to bribery, ...

Released on 14/01/2019 This is the fifth edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019. Across the region the electoral campaigns appear to be less intense and with fewer resources than in the same period in 2011 and 2015. There is some variability to this, with more visible campaigning in Akwa ...

Released on 24/12/18 This is the fourth report of Niger Delta Watch 2019.

At a regional level, the latest period has been markedly quieter politically in all of the states observed. There was a protest related to recent events at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. In ...

Reducing 2019 election risks The 2019 Nigerian elections are now less than three months away. Given the relative success of the 2015 elections – which, although flawed, saw an incumbent president relinquish power for the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 – they have the potential ...

Released on 17/12/18
This is the third edition of Niger Delta Watch 2019. This week we are pleased for the first time to include graphics illustrating some of the data the project has been able to gather. Incidents submitted by Election Observers in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta are in ...

This report calls for an alternative approach to tackle artisanal oil refining in the Niger Delta, based on an analysis of how the improvised artisanal oil refining value chain has adapted and changed in Bayelsa and Rivers states over the past five years. This quantitative and qualitative research is based ...

Released on 10/12/18 This is the second weekly report of Niger Delta Watch 2019. It highlights key incidents reported by the project’s citizen election observers in each state. As of next week, we will include visual trend analysis, and specific incidents will be used to highlight key dynamics.

In Rivers ...

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Released on 03/12/18 This is the first weekly report of Niger Delta Watch 2019. Niger Delta Watch 2019 is a citizen-led elections observation project reporting on the 2019 Nigerian presidential and governorship elections. It focuses on the States of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom. The project is a ...

Nigeria’s power sector is failing. After $2 billion was spent on the nationalised National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in the 1980s and 1990s, the Authority had an all-time low 1,700 MW of power capacity. This was hopelessly inadequate to meet the growing needs of the country. It was also clear ...