BY CHIKA KWAMBA
The Delta State Government has deepened its call for strong community participation in the execution of development projects across the state’s 25 local government areas, noting that inclusive governance remains critical to achieving sustainable development.
This was disclosed during an interactive town hall meeting organised by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Monitoring and Audit, Engr Goodnews Agbi, held at the Oshimili South Local Government Secretariat in Asaba.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers, community residents, and other key stakeholders. It was themed “Strengthening Community Participation in Project Monitoring and Supervision in the Three Senatorial Districts.”
The town hall meeting aimed to deepen grassroots involvement in project monitoring and supervision, in alignment with the state government’s Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda across the three senatorial districts.
Welcoming participants, Engr. Agbi underscored the importance of host communities taking ownership of projects located within their areas, both at the pre- and post-execution stages.
“You are all here, so we can discuss the importance of community participation in project monitoring. Some of you do not know the volume of projects currently ongoing across the state. ‘’It is our decision, approved by the Governor, to organise this town hall meeting to inform communities that several projects are ongoing, and that the project monitoring team is not omnipresent.
“The monitoring team or government officials cannot be present in every nook and cranny of the state at all times; community members must see projects in their areas as their collective responsibility.
“Whatever project is located in your community becomes your own. The Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori will not be the one using that road or facility every day; it is the community.
If it is a road leading to your area, you must assume ownership, ensure proper maintenance, and make sure contractors adhere strictly to the approved standards and specifications,” he added.
In a paper presentation, a renowned consultant in the state, Arc. Kester Ifodi criticised the notion that project monitoring is solely the responsibility of consultants.
“A project built for the people, but without the people, is a project destined to fail,” he said.
Ifodi outlined the benefits of community involvement, including enhanced accountability and transparency, strict supervision of quality materials, effective resource management, improved security, prompt reporting of vandalism, maintenance culture, cost-effectiveness, local intelligence, sustainability, and a strong sense of ownership. Additionally, he urged host communities to maintain civility in their engagement with contractors to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Similarly, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Prof. Hilary Owamah, focused his lecture on three key roles of communities in project execution: observation, ownership, and feedback.
He emphasised the need for communities to ask critical questions regarding project timelines, lifespan, and the quality of materials used.
He further identified common reasons why projects fail in Delta State and Nigeria at large, including projects sited without community input, prolonged contractor absence from sites, use of substandard materials, normalisation of abandoned projects, and post-completion vandalism.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, the Obi of Ubulu-Uno and 2nd Vice Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Obi Kikachukwu, commended Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for what he described as a timely and visionary initiative. “Delta State is a global village, and when you connect communities with roads, you improve their economic prospects. These communities produce agricultural products that are not readily available in Asaba, but transportation has always been a challenge,” Monarch said.
He concluded by assuring the state government of the full cooperation of traditional institutions in monitoring projects domiciled in their communities, describing the initiative as a true dividend of democracy.
