We are excited to report the outstanding milestone achieved through our advocacy to getting Malete Water Works functional in order to provide residents of the community as well as the youth population attending Kwara State University with potable water and improved quality of life.
Water although a natural resource is a very essential constituent for human survival and continual existence. The abundant supply of treated and purified water to a community is very vital for a prosperous economy. Access to safe water supply has great influence on the health, economic productivity and quality of life of the people, as different sectors of community can have water which they need for different purposes including for drinking, cooking, laundry, cleaning, swimming, firefighting, removing of waste, general sanitation, watering lawns and gardens, agricultural purpose, industrial uses, commercial uses etc. Generally, water production facilities in Nigeria rarely operate to capacity due to equipment breakdown, lack of power or fuel for pumping.
The Malete Water works project was first awarded on 14th October, 2013 for the construction and upgrade of the facility by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the purpose of providing portable and adequate safely managed water for domestic use for residents of Malete and adjoining villages of Alapo, Akodi, Peregi and the Kwara State University in Malete District under Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State with population of over 300, 000 people. The contract was reviewed upward 6 months after award while the completion period prior to the review was 12 months.
Our Value for Money independent findings revealed how the poorly executed and non-functioning Malete water works project was abandoned at the critical stage of the upgrade and construction. During site visit on 5th September 2018, our team met with residents of Malete community who lamented the sufferings of the community as a result of lack of water. The security guard employed by the corporation, informed our team that the project had never served clean water to residents. The VfM team held a town hall meeting with the Malete community on 23rd September 2018 where we discussed on what actions needed to be taken on the project with the full cooperation of the residents in the community.
The status of Malete water 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.
Our engagements led to the re-awarding of the water project and completion. The Malete Water works is now fully functional, serving Malete community and Kwara state University all together. The Malete Water works project was commissioned on Thursday 14th November 2019 by the Honorable Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, who inaugurated the project, alongside the Managing Director of LNRBDA, Dr Adeniyi Saheed Aremu.
This significant impact of our Value for Money project encourages us to continue our engagement and advocacy efforts on abandoned or poorly implemented projects in marginalized and underserved communities.
Useful Links:
https://www.von.gov.ng/water-plants-inaugurated-in-kwara-state/
https://www.blueprint.ng/excitement-in-kwara-community-as-water-scheme-comes-alive-35-years-after/
https://www.environewsnigeria.com/govt-builds-upgrades-water-plants-in-kwara/
https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/11/14/nigerian-govt-inaugurates-water-plants-in-kwara/
Do you know of project(s) in your community that has been abandoned, not executed or poorly implemented. Our team is ready to help you track it and get government to act.
Value for Money allows you to track, report and act on audited development projects abandoned, not executed or poorly implemented in your community to ensure public funds are efficiently, effectively, and economically utilized to improve service delivery to you and other citizens in Nigeria
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