This resolution is contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end a two-day multilateral meeting of the stakeholders in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that top on the agenda was energy security in the Gulf of Guinea and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland attended the meeting.
Development partners such as the EU Commission, USAID, UNDP, DFID, World Bank, International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as NNPC and EFCC also participated.
They pledged to support Nigeria’s efforts to ensure maritime safety and security to eliminate oil theft, bunkering and criminal activities in the Niger Delta.
They promised to encourage NNPC and the Plymouth University in efforts to use oil fingerprinting for authenticating the source of crude oil sold internationally.
On small arms control, the parties agreed to enhance communication and information exchange among the governments on the sources of illegal weapons.
“The government of Nigeria should increase efforts to control movements of weapons across land borders and within Nigeria.
“Members should support the coordination of small arms control activities across the Gulf of Guinea region and the ECOWAS Sub-region.
‘’The Nigerian Navy should intensify its maritime control capabilities in the Niger Delta region to ensure enthronement of law and order,’’ the communique stated.
The meeting agreed to enhance cooperation and information exchange between partners to fight money laundering.
The meeting acknowledged the stimulation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative at the state level, saying that “the Bayelsa Expenditure and Income Transparency Initiative (BEITI) is welcomed in that respect.’’
On sustainable community development, the meeting charged NNPC to coordinate the development of a common and harmonised development plan within each state in the oil-producing area.
NNPC is also expected to work with oil companies operating in the respective states.
They will also share information and activities between the partners, IOCs, states, NDDC and local governments to avoid duplication and waste of resources.
“Partners are to identify areas of strength to ensure that assistance offered is based on organisation’s area of expertise,’’ it said.
It stated that development partners were prepared to assist the states in capacity building to improve governance and ensure value for money.
The foreign partners took note of positive developments in the Niger Delta and pledged to assist with development and security.
Participants called for special session for security agencies, diplomatic corps as well as stakeholders in the industry.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 2008, in Yenagoa.