FENRAD Decries Infrastructure Deficit in Ebem Ohafia, Demands Scorecard and Accountability from Political Representatives

Umuahia Abia State — September, 2026

The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has expressed deep concern over the persistent infrastructure deficit confronting Ebem Ohafia and communities across Ohafia, calling on elected representatives at the Federal and State levels to provide a comprehensive and verifiable account of their stewardship, legislative interventions, constituency projects and development footprints.

FENRAD notes with concern that despite the strategic importance and growing population of Ohafia, several communities, particularly Ebem Ohafia, continue to experience significant deficits in basic infrastructure and public services. These challenges include poor road infrastructure, inadequate public facilities, water and sanitation challenges, electricity deficits, healthcare and educational infrastructure gaps, and limited investments capable of stimulating sustainable local economic development.

The organisation is concerned that political representation must translate into tangible development outcomes for constituents and should not be reduced to political visibility, periodic visits, campaign activities or the distribution of handouts and empowerment materials.

Representation Must Deliver Development

FENRAD acknowledges that elected representatives have different constitutional and institutional responsibilities. However, effective representation also requires legislators to utilise their platforms to identify development opportunities, advocate for constituency needs, engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), scrutinise public expenditure and exercise effective oversight over projects and programmes affecting their constituents.

The people of Ebem Ohafia therefore have a legitimate right to ask:

What development projects have our representatives attracted to Ebem Ohafia and Ohafia generally?

What projects have they advocated for in the Federal and Abia State budgets?

What projects have been appropriated, released and implemented?

What oversight actions have they taken to ensure that budgeted projects are delivered?

These questions are fundamental to democratic accountability and cannot be dismissed as political opposition.

FENRAD Demands a Public Scorecard

As political office holders and aspirants begin preparations for another electoral cycle, FENRAD believes that performance must become a central consideration in determining whether political mandates should be renewed.

Consequently, FENRAD calls on elected representatives serving the people of Ohafia to make public comprehensive scorecards covering their period in office.

Such scorecards should include:

1. Projects attracted and facilitated for Ebem Ohafia and Ohafia generally;

2. Federal and State budgetary provisions secured for the constituency;

3. The location, cost and implementation status of constituency projects;

4. Legislative motions, bills and resolutions directly addressing the needs of Ohafia;

5. Oversight visits undertaken to Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for constituency development;

6. Interventions made regarding abandoned, delayed or poorly executed projects;

7. Infrastructure projects completed during their tenure;

8. Partnerships and development initiatives facilitated for the constituency;

9. Measures taken to promote employment, local enterprise and economic opportunities;

10. A clear explanation of outstanding commitments and plans for addressing them.

FENRAD further calls for these claims to be supported with verifiable evidence, including budget documents, project locations, project costs, implementation status and relevant government records.

Budgetary Allocations Must Translate into Development

FENRAD urges citizens and community stakeholders to pay greater attention to the Abia State and Federal budgets and demand answers regarding allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies with mandates to implement development projects in Ohafia.

Where funds have been appropriated for projects in Ohafia, citizens should be able to determine:

– How much was appropriated?

– What was the project?

– Where was it located?

– Who was responsible for implementation?

– How much was released?

– What percentage has been implemented?

– Who monitored the project?

– What is the current status?

This level of scrutiny is essential to prevent budgetary allocations from remaining merely as figures on paper while communities continue to suffer infrastructure deprivation.

Empowerment Should Not Replace Development

FENRAD also cautions against presenting short-term empowerment initiatives as substitutes for sustainable community development.

While skills acquisition, business support and other empowerment interventions can be useful, they cannot replace functional roads, electricity, potable water, healthcare facilities, quality schools, drainage systems, markets and other critical infrastructure.

A community cannot achieve sustainable development through handouts alone.

Ebem Ohafia needs investments that create opportunities, strengthen local economic activity and improve the quality of life of its residents.

A Call to the People of Ohafia

FENRAD therefore calls on traditional rulers, community development associations, youth organisations, women groups, professional bodies, religious institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders across Ohafia to establish a culture of evidence-based political accountability.

Citizens should demand answers before elections and assess political office holders based on measurable performance rather than political affiliation, personality, campaign rhetoric or temporary inducements.

FENRAD emphasises that asking questions about the performance of political representatives is not an act of political hostility. It is a fundamental responsibility of citizens in a democracy.

The Next Election Must Be About Performance

As political representatives seek the renewal of their mandates, FENRAD believes that the people of Ebem Ohafia and Ohafia generally must be empowered with sufficient information to make informed electoral decisions.

The critical question should no longer be simply:

“Who is contesting?”

Rather, it should be:

“What has the person achieved with the mandate previously entrusted to them?”

Every political office holder seeking re-election should be prepared to answer:

What did you promise?
What did you deliver?
What projects did you attract?
What did you monitor?
What did you influence?
How much was appropriated?
How much was implemented?
And what measurable difference has your representation made in Ohafia?

FENRAD therefore calls for a public constituency accountability dialogue and scorecard review involving political representatives, community stakeholders, government agencies, civil society organisations and citizens of Ohafia.

The people deserve the opportunity to examine the facts and determine whether the performance of their representatives justifies another mandate.

Our Position

FENRAD maintains that political representation must be measured by service, accountability and development outcomes—not campaign visibility.

Ebem Ohafia and Ohafia as a whole deserve representatives who will champion their development needs, attract meaningful investments, provide effective oversight and ensure that public resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

The time has come to move from politics of promises to politics of performance; from handouts to sustainable development; and from political loyalty to evidence-based accountability.

The people have the right to know.
The representatives have a responsibility to account.
And the next mandate must be determined by performance.

Signed:
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
FENRAD Nigeria