Urgent Call for Follow Up on the Ojantele and Obagaji Earth Dam Project
I hope this write up finds Honourable Pastor. Ojotu Ojema well. I am compelled to bring to your attention to a pressing issue regarding the Ojantele and Obagaji Earth Dam project in the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State. It was reported the, the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) made a significant payment of N43,511,627.91 to Josdean Diamondstar Synergy Resource Ltd for the construction of this vital infrastructure since last year. This payment was allegedly processed on September 18, 2024, under payment code 1001213315-14 and payer code 0252042001.
Unfortunately, as of now, there has been no visible progress on the project. Despite the urgency and significance of this initiative, the community has seen little action taken to advance it. It is concerning that, even with the 2024 budget deadline approaching in July 2025, essential follow up on the project remains lacking. The Honourable member representing our constituency, Honourable Ojotu Ojema, has yet to convene a town hall meeting to inform constituents about the reasons for this delay, thereby neglecting our community’s calls for transparency and accountability.
Given that it has been seven(7) months since the funds were disbursed, we strongly urge Honourable Ojotu Ojema to take immediate action. Firstly, it is crucial to confirm enquire why the contractor, Josdean Diamondstar Synergy Resource Ltd, have not mobilized to site and commenced work on the project as initially planned. Furthermore, we call upon the Honourable member to actively follow this up, monitor the construction process to ensure it aligns with the community’s expectations and stays within the agreed timelines and specifications.
Community engagement is also paramount at this juncture. It is important for the Honourable member to reach out to community members, gather feedback on the project’s monitoring and implementation, address any concerns they may have. We implore him to investigate the project’s status urgently and hold the contractor accountable while ensuring that the community is fully informed regarding the reasons behind the delay.
Honourable Ojotu Ojema must recognize that failure to execute this project before the expiration of the budget would be a significant setback for our constituency and community. Constituency projects are a continual concern, and neglecting necessary actions could lead to repercussions for the next representative from Apa local government. It is essential that Honourable Ojema, who allegedly nominated the project, communicates to the contractors the importance of this dam to the residents of Apa and Agatu. With the cleared site now becoming a habitat for rodents and reptiles, the community’s need for this dam to combat water scarcity can never be over emphasize.
As a committed advocate for our community, I remain your sincere brother, Comrade Paul G Edoh Jr., and I fervently hope for swift action to address this critical situation.