CODE stresses importance of community engagement in reducing abandoned projects

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

A Civil Society organisation (CSO), Connected Development (CODE) in partnership with OXFAM has emphasised the importance of community engagement and collaborative efforts to address challenges such as the abandonment of vital projects in communities.

The Chief Executive, CODE,  Mr Hamzat Lawal, said this during a press conference reviewing the organisation’s activities.

Lawal said that from interactions with community leaders, there was a need to prioritise projects that would be of value to the people based on the available resources to ensure their completion on estimated time.

“Moving forward, CODE emphasizes the importance of community engagement and collaborative efforts to address challenges such as the abandonment of vital projects like the Primary Health Care Center in Esuk Mba Community and the St. Ebenezer’s African Church School project in Cross River State.

“CODE urges relevant authorities to prioritise these projects and work towards their prompt completion,” Lawal said.

Lawal said that based on citizens’ engagement there is a need for lawmakers in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Imo to adopt and pass the Freedom of Information Act in their states.

“As an organisation committed to open data and citizen engagement, we call on the state legislators in Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo states to adopt and pass the FOI bill to law.

“We urge all concerned parties, including the government and oil companies, to fulfil their obligation of establishing and completing the Host Community Development Trust Fund,” he said.

CODE urged all concerned parties, including the government and oil companies, to fulfil their obligation of establishing and completing the Host Community Development Trust Fund.

He added that organisations recently conducted comprehensive training sessions for 47 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations, Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and media representatives in Delta State.

According to him, they focused on maximising the utilisation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to promote transparency and accountability in government.

He said, “As part of our efforts to instil the values of social accountability and integrity in future leaders, we have been engaging secondary school students through established civic clubs and developed manuals.

“By doing this, we hope to encourage and incorporate these values in them from a young age, so that they can become leaders, who display integrity and accountability in the future.

“Also, we have engaged oil-rich community stakeholders to understand the delay in the setting up of the Host Community Development Trust Fund under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He said that Connected Development (CODE) Drives Positive Change in Africa through the Power of Voices Partnership project.”

Connected Development (CODE) is a leading African Civil Society Organisation dedicated to empowering marginalised communities, enhancing access to information, and fostering grassroots movements for positive change.