Residents of Obeta-Ndoki community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State are facing severe hardship as they remain without access to clean drinking water nearly two years after ₦10.6 million was released for the rehabilitation of their water scheme.

The situation was revealed by civic monitoring platform MonITNG, which disclosed that a recent visit by a Tracka monitoring team uncovered persistent neglect, unfulfilled promises and worsening living conditions in the community.

According to Tracka, the funds were disbursed in June 2024 for the rehabilitation of the Obeta-Ndoki water scheme, including reticulation, as a 2024 Federal Government project under the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority.

However, 19 months after the release of the funds, there is still no functional water infrastructure in the community.

Instead, residents — including men, women and children — depend entirely on a local stream for drinking, cooking and other domestic needs. Findings from the monitoring visit described the stream as polluted, unsafe and shared with animals, yet it remains the only available source of water.

As a result, the community continues to record frequent cases of waterborne diseases, worsening the hardship of families already struggling with limited access to healthcare. What was intended to improve public health has instead become another symbol of failed governance and contractor negligence.

Tracka’s investigation revealed that the ₦10.6 million released for the project is still in the possession of the contractor, Jonac Multi Purpose Company Limited, despite no visible work carried out at the project site.

“There were no construction materials, no ongoing activity and no evidence that the project ever commenced,” Tracka reported, raising concerns over what it described as a clear case of public funds disbursed without delivery.

The situation comes at a time of mounting economic pressure on Nigerians, marked by rising living costs and increased taxes. Advocates say accountability in public spending has become critical, particularly for essential services such as access to clean water.

The Tracka team has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to urgently investigate the project, compel the contractor to return to site, and ensure the immediate completion of the water scheme.

They stressed that access to clean water is a basic human right, adding that the Obeta-Ndoki community deserves the project already paid for with public funds.

Citizens were also encouraged to use platforms such as govspend.ng to monitor government projects in their communities and speak out when funds are released without results, insisting that public exposure must lead to accountability, justice and real change.