Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency Residents Demand Accountability for Federal Projects

Residents of the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in Rivers State have staged a protest, demanding accountability in the award and execution of federal projects in their area.

The protesters, led by an advocacy group, are calling on the National Assembly, the respective ministries, and agencies to ensure that the projects are awarded and executed in compliance with the Public Procurement Act.

The demonstration, which took place in the Igwuruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, comes after three months of awareness campaigns aimed at empowering the constituents to hold their representatives accountable for the use of public funds.

The convener of the Advocacy Group, Okwu Bethel-Chimzie, emphasized the need for transparency and informed the public about the importance of tracking federal constituency projects.

He cited an example from the 2019 budget, where N70 million was allocated for the purchase of speed boats for local fishermen, but the group could not find any beneficiaries of the project.

Bethel-Chimzie believes that the protest will help restore the people’s confidence in democratic governance and ensure that the constituency is not shortchanged, especially in the implementation of the 2024 Budget of the federal government.

He also urged other constituents to follow their example and hold their lawmakers accountable for the allocation and execution of federal projects.

The protesters have notified anti-graft agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Physical Responsibility Commission, to investigate the matter and ensure that the projects are executed as planned.

The federal lawmaker for Ikwerre / Emohua Constituency, Boniface Emerengwa, did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the matter.

As the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency residents continue to demand accountability, the outcome of this protest may serve as a catalyst for change in the way federal projects are awarded and executed in the area.