Nkerefi Patriotic Forum Slams Enugu SSG Over Smartschool Project Allegations

Nkerefi Patriotic Forum Slams Enugu SSG Over Smartschool Project Allegations

A recent controversy has erupted in Enugu State, Nigeria, as the Nkerefi Patriotic Forum, a prominent advocacy group, has strongly refuted allegations made by Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the Enugu State Government. The allegations centered on the theft of building materials intended for the Smartschool project in Nkerefi Ward 1, with Prof. Onyia blaming the community for the delay in the project's completion.

In a statement signed by Hon. David C. Ani, Publicity Secretary of the Nkerefi Patriotic Forum, the group vehemently denied the allegations, stating that they are aware of the theft of materials, but the perpetrators are not from Nkerefi. Instead, the forum pointed fingers at the contractor's team, specifically the site manager and engineer, who allegedly sell materials on the way to the site, resulting in incomplete deliveries.

The forum's statement further revealed that their intelligence has shown that the contractor is not working with trustworthy individuals, and that their security team has arrested someone from Abia State, not Nkerefi, who stole a 1 GP tank from the site and sold it. The engineer, however, intervened and bailed the thief, recovering the stolen item but refusing to hand him over to the police.

The Nkerefi Patriotic Forum emphasized that 80% of the workers on the site are not from Nkerefi, making it challenging for the community to monitor the project's progress. The forum also expressed gratitude to the Enugu State Government for its efforts in developing Nkerefi and urged that the community be allowed to participate in projects awarded in their town.

The controversy surrounding the Smartschool project has sparked concerns about transparency, accountability, and community involvement in development projects. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Enugu State Government and the contractor will respond to the allegations and work towards a resolution that benefits the Nkerefi community.