Our work requires us to always bring to the limelight all the things that are not working in Nigeria, so it can be depressing to be constantly bombarded with stories of inefficiency and corruption by the government.
But there is always a streak of lightning in the cloud, successes that give our team strength to push through for one more day.
A community that now has access to a quality health facility after years of neglect, children that can now go to school in a conducive environment, and residents in a rural area who now have clean water.
In June, we recorded three success stories directly linked to our advocacies.
Katsina: “Our Leader is from my Hometown So We Will Not Suffer” – That One Na Wash
In August 2020, our Project Tracking Officer visited the Yammama community in Malumfashi LGA, Katsina state and discovered that over 15,000 residents had no healthcare. The Primary health centre was in a horrible state. The roofs were leaking, no windows or beds, and the centre had only two staff. Residents were languishing in ill health, and pregnant women were dying from delivery at home.
We called the public’s attention and the Katsina state government to it on Twitter. We also wrote a letter to the state government about renovating the healthcare centre. Afterwards, the state government promised to renovate, staff and equip it.
In 2021, work began on the site, and we urged residents to monitor the progress and ensure the construction was up to standard. In May 2022, the centre was completed and fully equipped. The facility has now been commissioned by the Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State and is open for use.
The facility consists of 12-bed male and female wards, a labour room, a pharmacy, and a laboratory.
We spoke with the community leader of Yammama, Alhaji Isyaku Abubakar ‘Yammama, who recalled with nostalgia how the community and its surroundings suffered due to the lack of the facility.
“Our people used to suffer very well. Sometimes when somebody want to give birth, they will stay at home because there is nothing in the health centre. Some will survive, and some will die, even the baby die sometimes.
When people are sick, they will use herbs or just treat themselves at home. We thank Allah for this new health centre. We are grateful to you and the government for helping us. We are very happy.” he said.
Taraba: Neglecting the ‘Leaders of Tomorrow.’
In Taraba state, our project tracking and community sensitisation revealed that the education sector is in a state of emergency.
Government schools are dilapidated, without furniture, and grossly understaffed. However, interventions such as the Federal Consolidated projects have been bridging the gap in recent times, one step at a time.
In the capital city of Jalingo, we visited Hassan Primary School, Muhammad Tukur Primary School, and Mafindi Primary School. These schools did not have furniture to cater to the registered pupils.
An example is Hassan Primary School which has 1,401 pupils with less than 500 pieces of furniture. This made the children sit on the bare floor to learn in terrible conditions, and their attendance dropped drastically.
Fortunately, in the 2021 budget, a combined N35m was allocated for the supply of classroom furniture to these schools.
In September 2021, we held a town hall meeting with the staff of the schools and residents of the community to sensitise them about the project and their civic duties. However, in February 2022, the communities and staff notified us that the project had not been implemented.
We wrote an FOI letter to UBEC headquarters in Abuja, which is the implementing agency, to notify them of the community’s expectations on the project and for an update on the implementation.
In May 2022, the staff of the three schools called to inform us that the government had supplied customised plastic tables and chairs, exercise books, markers, and whiteboards had been supplied to their schools. The details are below;
- Hassan Primary School received 186 plastic desks and chairs, 725 pieces of notebooks, five whiteboards, and 30 packs of markers.
- Muhammad Tukur Primary School received 186 plastic desks and chairs, five whiteboards, and 300 pieces of notebooks and markers.
- Mafindi Primary School received 290 plastic desks and chairs, 300 pieces of markers and notebooks, and five whiteboards.
The teachers expressed their joy at the new development as it will provide relief to the children, improve their learning experience, and help the pupils that have left to return to school.
Edo: Bad Water no be Tea – People Go Die.
In Ohia community in Owan West LGA, Edo state, there is no pipe-borne water. Over 6,000 residents rely on stream water which is usually contaminated and has led to several disease outbreaks that have killed people.
In the 2021 Federal government budget, N50m was budgeted for the provision for new and rehabilitation of existing boreholes in Owan federal constituency, Edo state (ERGP554002588). Although the government did not specify the exact locations, we sensitised five communities in Owan East and Owan West LGA to educate residents about the budgetary provision.
In December 2021, we visited the office of Hon. Julius Ihonvbere to inquire about the implementation status of some of the projects nominated and discuss the plight of Ohia community.
The residents called us in January 2022 to inform us that the borehole construction had commenced, and in May 2022, it was completed and ready for use. When we visited in June, Ohia residents had started using the borehole.
Ese, a market trader, spoke to Tracka about the importance of the project.
“Before before na from stream we dey fetch and the water no too good like that. But now this one clean well well. We thank una as una help us follow government reason our matter. Na God go bless una.” she said.
Your Community’s Development is in Your Hands
In all the success stories we have recorded across the country over the past eight years, one thing is constant – the rise of active citizens.
These citizens go the extra mile to advocate for development in their communities either by posting on social media, writing letters, following up on the implementation of projects, asking questions, or reaching out to the relevant stakeholders.
We call them Community Champions and are building a community for such people to connect and give them a platform to make their advocacy easier. Do you want to become a community champion in your area?
Sign up here: http://bit.ly/BudgITChampions
Story by Ayomide Ladipo.
