Policy Alert

This Global Recycling Day, we embrace the theme: "Don’t Think Waste, Think Opportunity."

At Policy Alert, our environmental commitment is advocating for zero-waste laws.

Strengthening Grassroots Governance: Policy Alert and Okobo LGA Launch Townhall and Administration Handbook

Policy Alert, with support from Naijayouthfund , recently convened a townhall meeting in Okobo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, under the Prioritizing Communities: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Local Government Administration project.

The engagement brought citizens and Local Government Council representatives together, creating a structured platform for dialogue on pressing community concerns including basic and vocational education, primary healthcare, local trunk C roads, and local economic development in indigenous communities.

In a further demonstration of commitment to strengthening local governance, Policy Alert launched a Local Government Administration Handbook, a practical resource designed to guide elected Local Government officials in delivering transparent, accountable, and inclusive services to their communities, with particular attention to citizens participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Both council representatives and citizens expressed appreciation for the initiative, pledging to sustain the forum as a consistent channel for civic engagement between constituents and their representatives.

Policy Alert remains committed to deepening democratic governance at the grassroots level across Nigeria.

POLICY ALERT HOSTS PANEL DURING IN PORT HARCOURT

The inaugural edition of the Host Communities Development Forum (HCDF) was convened in Port Harcourt on March 9, 2026, just a day after the global commemoration of the International Women’s Day. The coincidence was not lost on us, as we saw an opportunity to make a crucial connection between the theme and Policy Alert's work on Project AGILE: Advancing Gender, Innovation, and Local Engagement in HCDTs, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

In addition to publicly presenting the inaugural edition of the Host Communities Development Index (HCDI 2026), a benchmarking exercise that seeks to trigger a race to the top among Host Communities Development Trusts, the featured a commemorative panel session to mark the 2026 titled "Give to Gain: Unlocking the Real Potential of HCDTs through Gender-aware Governance." The conversation challenged stakeholders to move beyond tokenistic representation and toward structures that guarantee women real influence in decision-making.

The discussion reinforced a position Policy Alert has long held: that meaningful development in host communities and everywhere else is impossible without the active participation and leadership of women.

Through its work, Policy Alert continues to reinforce women’s agency and gender responsive policies and practices across the public, corporate, and community spheres.

This week in Port Harcourt, Policy Alert launched the inaugural edition of the Host Communities’ Development Index (HCDI) 2026. The report captures a pilot assessment of 18 Trusts across Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

The Index was presented during the Host Communities Development Forum, which brought together key stakeholders from Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) from Akwa Ibom and Rivers State, CSO's, Development partners, regulators, companies, and other relevant stakeholders. The following key findings were shared :

Weak Governance structures, inconsistent funding, and poor transparency are blocking real development for oil producing communities.

Women exclusion is rife: Most Trusts invest in gender-focused programmes, but still exclude women from actual decision-making. Only one Trust (Foursome HCDT) had up to 40% women on its Board.

Poor performance on environmental sustainability and energy transition readiness in most trusts.

The PIA promised host communities a fair share of the wealth extracted from their land. This Index shows that promise is still largely unfulfilled.

A key recommendation shared was that PIA regulations on Host Communities must be reformed to require mandatory board quotas for women and minimum budgetary commitments to women-led projects.

Highlight of the event was unveiling of the HCDI 2026 and recognition of outstanding HCDTs.

Dear Citizens,

Policy Alert warmly invites you to Host Communities’ Development Forum-HCDF 2026 & Public Presentation of Gender-Aware Host Communities’ Development Index, implemented under its A G I L E Project- Advancing Gender, Innovation and Local Engagement in Nigeria's Host Community Development Trust (HCDTs).

The Forum will serve as a vital platform for stakeholder engagement, bringing together community leaders, oil companies, regulators, and government officials to assess progress and plan future actions, especially from a gender perspective.

Join live here 🔗 https://meet.google.com/uro-etkd-bst

For too long, women have borne the cost of decisions made without them.

At Policy Alert, we are driving change through Project AGILE, we are putting tools, knowledge, and power into the hands of women ensuring their voices shape the present and the future.

On this International Women's Day,
Give to Protect,
Give to Preserve,
Give to Nurture.

Giving is not subtraction. It is multiplication.
Happy International Women's Day from all of us at Policy Alert!

Dear Citizens,

Tomorrow on radio show, guest, Cheryl Udom will be discussing "Advancing Service Delivery Through Inclusion"

Set your reminders and join the conversation

🗓: Tomorow, 27th Feb, 2026
🔗.9fm Xl1069.fm OR https://radio.garden/listen/xl106-9fm/tdIkIbHe

🕛: 7:30 pm


Naijayouthfund

Last week in Uyo, Policy Alert, with support from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, successfully convened a Community Town Hall and Validation Workshop on Promoting Women’s Inclusion in Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in Uyo.

The engagement brought together community stakeholders, regulators, and civil society actors to validate an advocacy tool designed to strengthen women’s inclusion and promote compliance with HCDT regulatory provisions.

Conversations were rich, participatory, and grounded in practical pathways for advancing gender inclusion in host communities.

This week we joined the Expanded Zero Waste Parliament held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The gathering convened stakeholders to reflect on the history, the present state and future of the Zero Waste value chain in Nigeria

Policy Alert in her capacity is honoured to serve as the National Secretariat for the Parliament with Faith Paulinus as the National Coordinator, Zero Waste Ambassadors in Nigeria.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the Nigeria Brand Audit Report conducted by Policy Alert and 8 other organizations.

A panel discussion themed ''From Data to Action'' gave an ample opportunity to x-ray the reports.

GAIA Africa Break Free From Plastic

Dear Citizens,

returns today airing in two locations, Uyo and Portharcourt, however at different times.

For episode 23, our respective guests, Ngozi Anyanwu, Executive Director of Ududu Development and Peace Initiative, and Esther Eyakndue, a Legal practitioner,

will be examining "Accountability After Projects : Measuring Impact of Women- Focused Interventions".

Listen live to the conversation on 91.7 Wave FM Portharcourt, by 12:30 pm.

You can also be a part of the discussion on Xl1069.fm Uyo, by 7:30pm tonight!