- as CODE delegation embarks on preliminary visit, hold outreach
- community in total darkness for over two years
- dependence on stream water continues as constituency project on solar borehole stalls
The Aboto-Oja community, Asa Local Government Area, in Kwara State, has expressed readiness to partner with the Connected Development, CODE in the monitoring of constituency projects in their community.
This was as they lamented the lack of basic amenities such as water, electricity, motorable road and conducive classrooms in the community school.
The community stakeholders expressed their view on Monday, July 22, 2024, when Community of Practice, CoP delegation visited Aboto-Oja on a preliminary visit to check the state of a constituency project which was yet to kick off.
The delegation, at the instance of Connected Development, CODE under the Project Trust campaign also embarked on an outreach program to enlighten the community on project monitoring and tracking.
The team lead, Taiwo Adediran, noted that the outreach was to educate the people on the use of the NOMTRAC app to nominate needed projects as well as report updates on ongoing projects in the community.
Speaking at the palace of the Alangua of Aboto-Oja, Alhaji Kasali Yakub Alaboto, a member of the team, Mr Olaide Olawuwo, said the delegation on behalf of CODE, was there to know the implementation stage of three solar boreholes approved for Aboto-Oja.
According to him, the constituency project of the solar boreholes being implemented by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, was included in the 2023 budget at the cost of N40,000 000.
He said there’s need for the community to take ownership of the project by following up with their representative at the Federal House of Reps and the implementation agencies.
The traditional ruler who was flanked by some chiefs and the youth representatives, said some delegates visited the community about six months ago to inform them about the project but have not returned since then.
He noted that all efforts to reach out to them has proved abortive.
“We were happy when they visited about six months ago because water has been one of the amenities lacking in our community.
“Our major source of water has been a stream for decades now. Unfortunately , we have been calling but no response until we misplaced the contact phone number,” he said.
The youth leader, Alfa Lateef said apart from the lack of potable water, the community also suffer from bad road, which affects its economy as an agrarian community and also poses security challenge.
He added that despite all efforts and community funds spent to repair electricity transformer and purchase other gadgets, Aboto-Oja has not had power supply for over almost 2 years.
Also speaking, Alhaji Idowu Raheem said the whole community still practices open defecation due to lack of toilet facilities while the Government Day Senior Secondary School is still in need of conducive classrooms.
They, however, noted that the community primary health care center is functional with health personnel.
Another member of the delegation, Mr Damilola Adebayo introduced the NOMTRAC app as the team took the stakeholders and residents through the usage.
He explained the benefit of the tool in helping to notify the government of the people’s infrastructural need as well as update on ongoing projects.
Other places visited to check the state of infrastructure and enlighten them on the NOMTRAC tool included the Aboto Oja central market and the community secondary school.
The team which included Mrs Olamide Akinsola and Omolara Alabi also visited the road and the stream.