Tracka in her characteristic manner was in Mbo LGA to sensitise the people of Abiakowo, Okoboho and Utuidim, all in Ebughu Town, on their respective budgetary provision, as contained in the 2023 budget. A provision of solar powered mini water project was ceded to these communities in Mbo LGA, Akwa Ibom state with a total allocation of N59.1m at N19.7m each for the three communities.
This information ignited hope and energized the atmosphere with ecstasy, and the reason for this excitement cannot be detached from the sufferings the lack of potable water had brought to the people. The community had lacked access to potable and clean drinking water sources for over two decades, depending on contaminated streams and walking long distances to fetch water—conditions that severely compromised their health and quality of life.
Indeed, the three chosen locations Abiakowo, Okoboho and Utuidim, had water as their genuine and germane needs. But one quite disturbing discovery was that while the project commenced in the other two locations of Abiakowo, and Okoboho, nothing happened in Utuidim community and unfortunately, the unsuspecting people of this community were not aware until our sensitisation. Their exclusion, masked by poor transparency and limited access to information.
At the town hall meeting held with the community in June 2024, the details of the project were shared with them and we also informed them of the completion of this project in the other two locations. The information about the contractor (JG Ekanem and Company Ltd), the amount received on this project (N11.2m) and the date of payment (08 December 2023) was revealed, as shown to them from our govspend website. This information strengthened their resolve to make demands from their representative.
The community leader Chief Ita Okon said to our team “it was a terrible situation for us here in Utuidim. While other communities were getting clean water, we were still drinking dirty water and walking long distances just to find water that was barely safe. We didn’t even know we were forgotten until Tracka came.”
Also at the meeting the representative of the women Mrs Akaette Udoh also said “it broke me every time I saw children fall sick from the water we drank. We had no choice—we boiled, we prayed, but people still got typhoid and diarrhea. Some of us would sometimes wake as early as 4am to fetch water. We lived like that for years. When that water project was finally completed, it felt like a heavy burden was lifted off us.”
Tracka’s sensitisation efforts exposed the disparity, informed the community of their rightful entitlement, and galvanised collective action. Some members of the community, now equipped with facts and clarity, reached out directly to their representative, Hon. Esin Martins Etim. Within a month, the contractor mobilised to the site. The progress was slow at the beginning, but with persistent pressure from the community, the project was eventually completed in November 2024. The long awaited potable, solar-powered water was finally delivered to the community.
The situation in Utuidim is just a major testament that in every community, there is work to be done, in every nation, there are wounds to heal and in every heart, there is power to do it. It is willingness to take active steps, and get the expected inevitable change that matter.
Story by; Osiyemi Joshua and Akpan James
