CCIDESOR:121 Capital Projects Abandoned In Imo State.

Despite huge budgetary allocations that run into billions of naira for the education and health sectors from 2010-2014 in Imo State, there are 121 abandoned capital projects in these sectors in the State.

This revelation was made by the Executive Director, Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, Emeka Ononamdu.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri, Ononamdu said the abandoned projects are in six local governments’ areas of the State namely Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Ngor Okpala, Ahiazu Mbaise, Obowo and Isiala Mbano.

He said based on a recent exercise conducted by his group, the projects were started between 2014-2015 and only 32 (26.4%) were completed but mainly not accessible.  According to him, 51 projects were ongoing for over a minimum of six months which represents 42% of the total projects monitored in the six local governments.

 Ononamdu said most of the projects his group monitored were in the health and education sectors, wondering why there is a culture of abandoned projects in the State despite budgetary allocations for them.  

He fingered corruption and non availability of budget information as well as non release as of capital projects details as reasons why citizens and communities are unable to protect such projects, stressing that the culture for the abandonment of the projects has greatly affected the development of the State.

Onomadu said Imo State is the richest State in the South East with highest monthly federal allocations, the most populated and with the highest number of local governments in the region.

The CCIDESOR director said Anambra State with less federal allocation has overtaken Imo State in terms of development indices, stressing that while Imo State is reducing salaries, Anambra State has increased the salaries of its workers.

“There is free education in Imo State but Anambra State with affordable education has now overtaken Imo State in NECO, WAEC and JAMB. There is serious problem in Imo State if these issues are not addressed” he said

While calling on the State government to focus on completing abandoned projects in the State, he appealed to communities in the State to monitor such projects and demand project information which is their right and not a privilege.