Extra: Only 30 solar streetlights seen in alleged N100 million Nnamani const project

Only 30 Solar streetlights were seen in the alleged N100 million Constituency Project facilitated by Mr. Chimaroke Nnamani, a federal lawmaker from Enugu State.

Under the deal, Mr. Nnamani, in 2021, using the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, nominated the provision of solar streetlights in selected markets and schools in Enugu East Senatorial District he represents at the National Assembly as his constituency project.

Perfecting the deal, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, supervises the Solar Streetlights installation project.

The federal government in an effort to ensure the project was executed budgeted the sum of N100 million for it, and allocated funds for it.

The contract for Solar Streetlights was awarded to Messrs. Ragal Consult Limited.

Tracka, a public accountability organization that visited the project site for an inspection, disclosed that despite N100 million budget provision, only 30 solar streetlights were installed in New Atisan Market along Ogui road in Enugu State.

On of the solar streetlights in the market
One of the solar streetlights in the market

It is not however clear, how the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, an agency with the mandate to address issues relating to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the coordination of Migration and Development, got involved in the installation of solar Streetlights that is outside its mandate.

Constituency projects are nominated by the lawmakers for the needs of their constituents and recommended same to the executive during budgeting; this will help to improve the living condition of the people in their constituents through building local infrastructures.

However, Nigerian experience has shown that Lawmakers do not execute constituency projects as they appear in the national budget, and getting them to account for monies approved for such intervention is always difficult.

And, often, community residents are not aware such monies have been given to their representatives, and that makes accountability very difficult.

MAWA-Foundation could not immediately reach out to National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the Enugu lawmaker for official responses.

Note: Note, the upper story picture is not  real, used for an illustration purpose

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