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ENUGU STATE 2022-2024 BUDGET PROJECT TRACKING & MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN SPA COMMUNITIES

On the pathway to behavior change, it is not enough to implement project activities and hope for the best. It is important to monitor and evaluate implementation at all stages. This helps improve evidence-based decision-making, improved performance, better resource allocation, quality assurance, real-time learning, and long-term sustainability. 

Following the budget tracking and monitoring training conducted under the Strategic Partnership Agreement Project II, the youths have identified key capital projects in the Enugu state 2022 – 2024 budget earmarked for their respective LGAs (Aninri, Enugu South, Igbo-Eze North, and Isi-Uzo). 

The youths who are members of the Community Accountability Committees from the four LGAs have embarked on the capital project monitoring and successfully identified these projects and their current states. The committees have also proceeded to send their monitoring reports to their respective LGA Chairmen. The report findings will also be presented to the community members and stakeholders during the LGA town hall meeting.

Here’s a breakdown of the capital projects and their current status: 

ANINRI

  1. Okpanku Market Stall and Oduma Achara Culvert:

The Okpanku market has a long building with 16 shops. The culvert leads to farm clusters in Oduma Achara community.

It was observed that only four market stall at Okpanku is functional. The culvert leading to farm clusters at Oduma Achara is incomplete.

  1.  Ike River Bridge in Aninri LGA:

The Ike River bridge in Aninri LGA has been completed.

  1. Type III Primary Health Care Facilities:

Construction of type III Primary Health Care facilities in Oji River, Awgu, and Aninri LGAs has commenced but is incomplete. The buildings lack doors and gates.

  1. FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme:

Support for the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for rice and cassava in Udenu, Isi Uzo, Nkanu East, Enugu East, and Aninri LGAs has been completed. However, the machinery is non-functional due to a lack of maintenance.

  1.  3-Span Bridge Across Ike River:

The construction of the 3-span Bridge across Ike River at Amegbu, Agbada Nenwe, Aninri LGA, Enugu State, has been completed.

  1. Command Technical School, Mpu:

The upgrading and equipping of the Command Technical School in Mpu has been completed.

IGBO-EZE NORTH LGA

a.    Construction of Cottage Hospital with Isolation Wing

The Cottage Hospital with an Isolation Wing is incomplete. It lacks electrical wiring, rendering it non-functional for medical purposes. 

b.    Construction of Amenity Building in Enugu Ezike General Hospital

Some of the construction materials used in both projects appear to be substandard. This could compromise the longevity and safety of the structures.

ISI-UZO LGA

a.    Completion of the construction of reinforced concrete culverts and drainage channels – spot improvement/connectivity at Eha-Amufu – Ikem road, Isi-uzo LGA

The concrete and drainage channels earmarked for the road have been abandoned. It’s difficult for motorists to ply the Ikem – Eha-Amufu road during the rainy season, thereby discouraging farmers from engaging in commercial agriculture. FCE Eha-Amufu staff are forced to work late, especially during the rainy season. Vehicles are often trapped due to the bad road. 

b.    Completion of the construction of type 3 primary health care center in Isi-Uzo LGA

This project has been completed.

c.    Construction of rice market with stores/aggregation centres at Adani rice market and Isu cassava market of Uzo Uwani and Isi-Uzo LGA respectively

The project is yet to commence. 

d.    Fund for agricultural development (FGN/IFAD) of the value chain (VCDP) for rice and cassava in Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East, Enugu East, Aninri LGA.

The project is yet to commence. 

ENUGU SOUTH

a. Completion of the perimeter fence and landscaping construction at Eze and Onwudiwe parks, Uwani, Enugu South LGA, Enugu state.

The foundation of the perimeter fence and landscaping at Eze and Onwudiwe parks, Uwani, has been completed, and 3 trips of sand were sighted in the vicinity, but no work was ongoing. It is currently uncompleted. 

b. Completion of the reconstruction of a section of Awkunanaw street-Etudo Achara layout, Enugu South LGA.

This project has been completed.

c. Rehabilitation of Agbani road-police college -Gariki flyover (By Port Harcourt expressway).

This project has been completed.

d. Furnishing of the Magistrate Court Building, 1×8 courtrooms block A and B at Enugu South.

This project has been completed.

This initiative aimed to promote youth participation, transparency, and accountability in budgetary allocations and project implementation. SSDO team also embarked on monitoring and advocacy visits to the community stakeholders and LGA Chairmen. An LGA focal person was part of the monitoring exercise to ensure transparency. This project monitoring will help trigger duty bearers and decision-makers to take action on uncompleted or abandoned projects. 

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SSDO, ActionAid Works to Improve Education in Rural Communities 

Research shows that over 90 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. A good percentage live in rural and marginalized communities. These communities are characterized by poor access to healthcare and education, lack of infrastructure, and low income levels. This affects their standard of living and quality of life, of which kids are the biggest victims. 

Understanding this reality, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria through the Local Rights Programme, is doing its part to improve education in marginalized communities.

The program aims to reduce poverty by increasing its engagement with the poor and marginalized in selected communities through its Child Sponsorship mechanisms. The child sponsorship initiative identifies vulnerable children aged 3 to 8 years and attaches them to sponsors.

Over the past collection period, the team collected over 740 child messages across eight communities. Our motivation is to see the children and the communities at large be all that they can be. This activity allowed the team to keep tabs on the kids and monitor their development process. As well as get feedback from the kids to the sponsors. 

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SSDO Commemorates August Meeting In Three Communities In Enugu And Anambra State. 

The Mother’s Congress, popularly known as August Meeting in Igbo land, is a time when Igbo women from the cities and diaspora return to lend helping hands to their communities. They embark on projects to improve healthcare, peacebuilding, and educate the community.

To show solidarity in projecting and supporting the roles women play in family and community development, South Saharan Social Development Organization, through her Sister Guardian Initiative project, visited three communities to commemorate this year’s August meeting with them. They include; Ibutenze in Udi LGA, Awha Ndiagu in Ezeagu LGA in Enugu state and Omor in Ayamelu LGA in Anambra state.

SSDO Gender and Protection Programme Lead, Blessing Uchendu, and Jacob’s Well Project Officer, Stella Ani, built the capacity of the women on causes and effects of domestic violence against women and girls, how to report it, where to report it and how to follow it up. The team used the medium to create and intensify awareness of women’s rights and the law.

Other pressing issues discussed during the capacity-building event include economic empowerment, political inclusion, violence against women, female genital mutilation, and advocacy. The team also sensitized the women on how to leverage Jacob’s Well platform to grow their businesses. At the end of the training, the women were enlightened on handling issues around gender-based violence.

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SSDO, WaterAid Nigeria Commissions Ukwuinyi Water Scheme 

In Nigeria, more than 60 million people do not have access to basic water supply. Over 12 million people lack access to toilet facilities. About 29 percent of children do not have water to meet their daily needs. Thus affecting their ability to attend school and wash their hands properly to fight off diseases. In Enugu, half of the state’s residents lack access to basic water services. 

Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria through the Latter Day Saints Charity Project, has provided a 40,000-liter water scheme at Ukwuinyi community, Igbo-Eze North LGA, leveraging the kiosk model to ensure proper dissemination. This is part of the interventions under the second phase of the Strengthening Water and Sanitation Delivery Project.  

The water scheme will help to reduce open defecation and keep Enugu on course to achieve an open defecation-free status by 2030. It will reduce the likelihood of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery that the community suffers before the installation. And help community children focus more on their education as the distraction of going long distances to draw water has been eliminated.

Dignitaries present at the Project commissioning and handover include the Honorable Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani, Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Donor Relations, Hon. Dubem Onyia, WaterAid Country Director represented by Mr. Solomon Akpanufot, State Programme Lead, Directors from the State Ministry of Water Resources, State House of Assembly Representatives, and Chairmen, 

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Charting a New Course for the WASH Sector

Enugu State’s WASH Stakeholders paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani. The delegation, led by WaterAid Nigeria, included South Saharan Social Development Organization, SSDO, and various CSOs. 

The team used the opportunity to discuss and agree on a roadmap for partnership with the state government to deepen WASH service delivery in Enugu State. And shared insights into the team’s initiatives.  

Key issues brought to the notice of the commissioner include: 

– Implementation of the Enugu State Water Sector Law 2021. 

– Declaring a state of emergency in the sanitation sector to fast-track the Open Defecation Free Vision 2025. 

– Sustainability and strengthening of the WASH Sector Partnership Forum. 

These and more were discussed during the meeting. Representing SSDO were the Head of Programs, Udochukwu Egwim, and the Finance and Admin Manager, Amaka Okoye. SSDO is committed to improving access to WASH facilities for residents of Enugu state.