The funds were disbursed in June 2024 for the rehabilitation of the Obeta-Ndoki water scheme, including reticulation, as a 2024 Federal Government project under the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority.
Residents of Obeta-Ndoki community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State are facing “severe hardship” as they continue to struggle for access to clean water almost two years after ₦10.6million was released for the rehabilitation of their water scheme.
This was disclosed in a post by civic platform MonITNG, which said a recent visit to the community by a Tracka monitoring team revealed residents’ accounts of prolonged neglect, broken promises and worsening living conditions.
The funds were disbursed in June 2024 for the rehabilitation of the Obeta-Ndoki water scheme, including reticulation, as a 2024 Federal Government project under the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority.
However, 19 months after the release of the money, there is still no functional water infrastructure in the community.
Instead, men, women and children rely solely on a village stream for drinking, cooking and other household needs. According to findings from the visit, the stream is “unsafe, polluted, and shared with animals,” yet it remains the only source of water available to residents.
As a result, the community continues to record frequent cases of waterborne diseases, compounding the hardship of families with limited access to healthcare. What was meant to improve public health has become another reminder of government failure and contractor negligence.
Tracka’s findings showed that the ₦10.6million released for the project remains with the contractor, Jonac Multi Purpose Company Limited, despite “no visible work carried out on site.”
There were no construction materials, no activity and no indication that the project ever commenced, raising concerns of a “clear case of public funds disbursed without delivery.”
The situation comes amid growing economic pressure on citizens, with increased taxes and rising living costs. Advocates say accountability in public spending is now imperative, particularly for essential services such as access to clean water.
The Tracka team has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to urgently investigate the project, compel the contractor to return to site and ensure the immediate completion of the water scheme.
They stressed that clean water is a “basic human right” and that Obeta-Ndoki community deserves access to the project already paid for with public funds.
Citizens were also encouraged to use platforms such as govspend.ng to monitor projects approved for their communities and speak out when funds are released without results, insisting that the exposure must lead to action, justice and real change for Obeta-Ndoki.