The #FollowTheMoney (FTM) Team during its data mining session examined the Delta State Paris Club Refunds costed work plan. It was found out that NGN 4.6 million ($14,624) was budgeted for the Construction of Water Hydrant/Borehole at Ododegho (population of 7,000) in Ughelli North LGA with the contractor being Questrade Nigeria Limited. This appropriation is quite timely, considering the community lacks access to clean water.

We have initiated the #WaterOdodegho Campaign to track the implementation of the NGN 4.6 million. Through this campaign, we call on all concerned stakeholders, especially the Delta SPHCDA and Questrade Nigeria Limited to uphold the public interest through the accountable and transparent management of the fund that has been released to construct this borehole.

We invite the public to get involved in the Campaign today. Help us follow the money to ensure that the water borehole is built for the local community members in order to provide adequate and clean water access to them. Join us through ifollowthemoney.org.

 

Community Members Committed to Follow the Money

25 September 2017: The community members that participated in the town hall meeting were overtly happy to learn about the proposed water intervention in their community, resounding that water is one of their major problems, while committing to work with Follow The Money to make sure the NGN 4.6 million water project is implemented.

They testified that they have been empowered with basic information on monitoring development projects in their community and vowed never to allow the water project fund slip off their grip.

Director of Engineering Designs Claimed He is Not Aware of The Water Appropriation at The Community

25 September 2017: During a townhall meeting at Ododegho, which was convened for all relevant stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the project, Engr Emmanuel Odogwu, Director of Engineering Designs at the Delta State Ministry of Water Resources commented that he was not aware of water project appropriation at the community on the Delta PCR Costed Workplan. However, he promised that the Ministry would assist in rehabilitating the moribund water facilities across the community.

Read the full report here.

FTM Team on Kiss FM, Discussing The Delta Paris Club Refund

13 September 2017: FTM team was on Kiss FM Abuja discussing our campaigns over the implementation of the Delta Paris Club refund.

Listen here, 

FTM Team on Nigeria Info FM, Discussing the Delta Paris Club Refund

4 September 2017: FTM team was on Nigeria Info FM Abuja discussing our campaigns over the implementation of the Delta Paris Club refund.

Listen here, 

Government Ministries not Aware of the Paris Club Refund

FTM Delta State Chapter Delegation at the Meeting

22 August 2017: Our Follow the Money State Chapter in Delta State went to the Ministry of Finance for a courtesy call on the Commissioner to ask critical questions concerning the implementation of the project. They were rather referred to the Ministry’s Accountant General, and later to a rather junior officer, the Director of Treasury, Mrs. Joy Enwa. She showed great lackadaisical attitude and later informed the team that the state government had disbursed the PCR funds to all concerned agencies.

Find the meeting report here. A confirmation from one of the Ministries involved, the Ministry of Education revealed most of the MDAs were not aware of the Paris Club Refund.

Recent Water Project in the Community is Not Traceable to the Paris Club Refund

9 August 2017: During a community outreach at Odedegho, Ughelli North LGA, for the campaign, we observed that the implementation of the proposed water project has not started. According to the community, no recent water project in the community is traceable to the state government from the Paris Club Refund.

Find the full report here.

Community Not Aware of Project Funding 

Odedegho Community Stakeholders at The Outreach

9 August 2017: The community stakeholders present at the outreach was exceedingly surprised to learn that there was an appropriation of NGN4.6m on the state’s Paris Club Refund work plan.

The community stakeholders confirmed that no such sum was communicated to them. In the words of the youth leader, Mr. Oke Samson, “We were not aware of this fund. No government personnel or contractor has ever been here for such. If not for Follow the Money, we might never have known.”

Community Claimed Government Last Met with them in 2014

The youth leader of #Ododegho

9 August 2017: While interacting with the community leaders, they stated that the last time they experienced government presence was between 2009-2014 and most of the water project seen in the community were those implemented and commissioned by either Delta State Oil Production Community Development Commission (DESOPADEC) or Niger Delta Development Commission  (NDDC).