Udi-Enugu: Rightsholders raise alarm over abandoned livelihood projects

The Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre)-Udi rightsholders have paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state, Hon. Phillip Okoh, as part of the effort to strengthen accountability and reiterate demand for the completion of livelihood road projects across Udi. 

Speaking during the visit, MAMA Centre-Udi rightsholders also Champion, Madam Grace Oriaku, indicated that women/rightsholders in Udi are not unaware of the Enugu State Government commitment to massive deployment of resources to engender development at the rural areas, and assurance to continue closing the gap between the hinterlands and urban areas in the state.

According to her, the Udi rightsholders have been leading the implementation of Accountability for Empowerment (A4E) project supported by VOICE Nigeria, primarily to demand accountability on abandoned livelihood road projects that impact their commercial activities and socio-economic well-being.

“Udi women/rightsholders are indigenous farmers, who derive most of their income from the sale of farm products.

“However, the roads leading from their villages to markets and to other neighbouring towns like Ekeani Enugu village via Etiti via Amachala via Umuase to Nsude mission market to Orie Agu and Nkwoagu markets are unmotorable.

“The state government during the past administration awarded contracts to build the linking roads for ease of movement from the hinterland to the cities so that smallholder farmers will have means of transporting their goods to improve incomes.

“For lack of access roads, we earn very little for our hard work, most of the perishable items spoil from lack of storage facilities or lack of buyers and access roads to transport goods to cities where they can get value for our money.

“There is serious lack of accountability in monitoring contracts and this has been the bane of community development and employment opportunities for young people,” she highlighted.

Also, another rightsholder, Madam Victoria Alor, called for targeted collaboration with Udi women/rightsholders in the areas of empowerment and socio-economic development beyond the project.

“Inclusive participation of Udi women/rightsholders in budgetary process at the State and Local Government levels has become imperative to encourage adequate and effective representation,” she stressed.

The rightsholders therefore, called for dedicated policy action towards the completion of abandoned roads in Udi, to ease transportation burden and facilitate movement of goods and services, especially farm products.

“We demand inclusion of Udi women/rightsholders in livelihood project implementation process to encourage ownership and greater accountability.

“We also demand continued policy support for Udi women/rightsholder socio-economic empowerment to improve their financial capacity and general socio-economic well-being,” they advocated

Reacting to the visit, the Chairman commended the unique focus of the project, while assuring the rightsholders of the Council’s commitment to critically review their demands for immediate policy interventions.