Water is a basic nutrient of the human body and critical to human life, hence the need for the establishment of Okene water works by the then Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Late Alh Ibrahim Onoruoyiza Atta for the entire people Ebira land. The provision of adequate safely managed water for domestic use by the communities in Okene and environs was a health protective measure adopted in mitigating the public health diseases of Cholera and Diarrhea. The Okene Water Works was upgraded and expanded in 2004 to Idiche and Okeneba communities by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. The Okene Water works is currently known as Governor Yahaya Bello Water (GYB Water). Due to this upgrade and expansion, there was the need for the perimeter fencing of the Okene water works to avoid theft, vandalism and contamination of the storage tanks and reservoirs.

On 2nd October 2014, the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Kwara State awarded a contract of ₦51.1 million for the perimeter fencing of the Okene Water Works in Okene, Kogi State as revealed by the 2016 Audit Report, the report also revealed that full payment was made to the contractor while the project was abandoned by the contractor.

Value for Money independent findings revealed that the Okene water project was abandoned. During the verification exercise, our team corroborated the 2016 audit findings while staff attached to the water works declined to comment on the status of the project.

The abandonment status of the Okene water works project led to our engagement with Anti-Corruption Agencies through the submission of petition on 26th August 2019 on the project which led to the review and investigation of the project. The petition has since been investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) who took up the issue with the contractor and as well as the implementing agency of government – LNRBDA.  Our team held a Sensitization Workshop bringing together relevant Civil Society Organizations, Journalists and citizens to address highlighted issues while engaging key stakeholders.  In addition, a TV program series was produced and aired to amplify community voices on the abandoned water project.

On the Okene Water works project in Kogi state, the contractor was mandated by the ICPC to return to the previously abandoned project site.  Presently, the status of the abandoned perimeter fencing of the Okene water works has changed from our last visit as the project has now been completed. This was disclosed by our source that is monitoring the project execution. This is a high impact level for our Value for Money team and this encourages us to continue our advocacy efforts on these abandoned projects in marginalized and underserved communities.

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