A civic watchdog, Civic Accountability Platform (MonITNG), has accused politicians in Aguata Federal Constituency, Anambra State, of mismanaging public funds meant for an empowerment project.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the group said it tracked how a project titled “Vocational Training and Empowerment of Selected Youths and Women of Aguata Federal Constituency” was poorly executed. The project, with code ZIP20250444, was facilitated by Hon. Engr. Dominic Ifeanyichukwu Okafor, who represents Aguata in the House of Representatives.
The project was handled by the Federal Co-operative College Oji River, under the Ministry of Agriculture, and was budgeted at **₦36 million. However, instead of vocational training or modern equipment, the initiative was unveiled on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Igboukwu Central School as a distribution of wheelbarrows, hoes, and cutlasses.
“A Waste of Public Funds”
MonITNG said the outcome of the project fell far below expectations.
“This exposes how constituency projects meant to tackle unemployment and poverty have been reduced to political handouts,” the group said.
The watchdog argued that true empowerment should provide youths and women with skills such as tailoring, ICT, agro-processing, welding, or renewable energy installation — along with modern tools to start sustainable businesses.
“How does a cutlass or wheelbarrow empower a young graduate to compete in today’s economy? How does it provide women with sustainable livelihoods? The truth is: it doesn’t. These items only entrench poverty while politicians score cheap points with party loyalists,” the statement added.
Call for Accountability
The group questioned why federal agencies approved and executed the project in its current form.
“We must demand answers from the Federal Co-operative College Oji River and the Ministry of Agriculture on why such a backward initiative was approved. Constituency projects are supposed to transform lives, not mock the intelligence of citizens,” it said.
MonITNG stressed that Nigeria risks falling behind if leaders continue to prioritize outdated empowerment models. It said countries around the world are investing in technology-driven agriculture and digital training, while Nigeria is “still distributing cutlasses and wheelbarrows.”
Demand for Better Projects
The group called for transparency, accountability, and a shift towards genuine investment in people.
“Public funds must work for the people. Citizens deserve real empowerment — modern training, innovative tools, and access to markets that can reduce poverty. Anything short of that is deception disguised as development,” it said.
The group warned that unless real reforms are made, millions will continue to be wasted while communities like Aguata remain trapped in underdevelopment.
