People who live in the Ikwere/Emohua Federal Constituency in Rivers State have sent letters to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, asking them to investigate how the 2024 Constituency Projects are being carried out in their area.
The residents of the two Local Government Areas (LGAs) that make up the Emohua/Ikwerre Federal Constituency explained that they want to stop the situation where lawmakers do not complete projects that were included in the budget and received full funding.
They said they informed the communities in their constituency about the approved projects and the allocated funds for each of them.
Bethel-Chimzie Okwu, who leads the group, shared this information during a discussion in Igwuruta in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
Okwu mentioned that the process began three months ago in the 27 wards of the constituency.
He explained that the constituency has frequently experienced the failure to carry out projects intended for its people as approved, and funds for constituency projects have often been redirected.
Okwu mentioned that the group has reached out to the EFCC, ICPC, and PRC to ensure that the money set aside in the budget for constituency projects is not redirected. He also said they will guarantee that all the projects outlined in the budgets are fully completed.
He said, “Several projects have not been completed, for instance, in the 2019 budget, there was a certain amount of money allocated for the purchase of speed boats for people in Ikwere-Emohua Federal Constituency, which was about N70 million that we saw in the budget.
“We looked around for the recipients of these boats, who were meant to be fishermen, but we could not find anyone.
“That's why we want to make sure that this time, we will identify who received each project, and we will verify the beneficiaries.”
“We have already put everything in place for what will happen if nothing changes by the end of this year. The EFCC, ICPC, and Fiscal Responsibility Commission are aware, and we have already informed them that their main task is to investigate and monitor Federal Government projects across the country.
“We wrote to them in a letter dated 7th of February, expressing that Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency should be the top priority. We will not take any risks.”
