The people of Fimie Community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, have expressed appreciation over the tracking of abandoned projects in their area by a non-governmental organization, Connected Development, CODE.
Their excitement over the visit was shown by chiefs, elders, women and youths of the community, when they ushered in officials of CODE to their Town Hall, on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Speaking on their mission, Rivers State Lead of Connected Development, CODE, Evelyn Williams informed that her organization is non governmental, and works with grassroots communities to demand for accountability for the resources that have been allocated to them.
Explaining CODE focus, she explained, “Our focus areas are in the WASH sector: Water, Sanitary and Hygiene.We also look into issues that have to do with environment, health and education. We don’t do direct intervention, we actually work with the community and empower them to demand for accountability.”
According to her, government is not in isolation, when you talk about government, you talk about the people.She urged the people to voice out their issues and challenges on their areas of need, to enable her organization know how to go about them.
Throwing more light on their activities, the Rivers State support officer of CODE, Mr. Charles Timothy Uffort reiterated that the organization assists communities in looking into issues concerning schools, hospitals, water, and other essential facilities that are lacking or not functioning in the communities, noting that CODE is not focused on building new projects but on the ones that have already been built by the government which are not functioning and ensuring their workability by drawing government attention to them.
Uffort told their host that CODE was established in 2008 and has presence in the 36 states of the federation, as well as in other parts of the world, and has also advocated for the good of many communities.
He recalled that they were in the community the previous day to meet with the community development committee, CDC chairman, Mr. Standfast Fimie, who explained their problems, hence the town hall meeting.
The Support Officer decried a situation whereby the only health centre built for the community by OMPADEC was converted into a disease control center by the Rivers State government during COVID-19 in 2020.
“Fimie Community is supposed to have a befitting functional health centre, water and school, because you are populated”, he stated, stressing that they are not supposed to go far to access medical care.
Uffort then asked the people to feel free, air their views, and mention the facilities they really want the government to address for them for CODE to follow up on.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the Fimie Community women leader, Mrs. Lucy Dagogo, thanked CODE, for their bold initiative and for availing themselves to come and see what they can do for them as a Community, adding that they would want to be highly connected.
“The areas we are looking at are, the health centre, just like it has always been. Our hearts cry. Let there be medical equipment, let there be medical personnel so that it will start running properly for the use of the community”, Mrs. Dagogo appealed, pointing, out that Abuloma and Ozugbokor have their health centres.
She lamented that it is always difficult for them to manage emergency situations when they arise.
“Toilet is another major need. We do not have toilets in our community, especially during raining season, if you come here it’s an eyesore; a lot of faeces on the roads. We have lots of batchers, and most of them did not make provision for toilets, it’s worrisome and our hearts cry too”, she narrated and encouraged CODE to help advocate on their behalf for the provision of at least three toilets and three bathrooms.
In his contribution, one of the chiefs in the Community, Chief Igbigoni Fimie noted that it is most pathetic to see that in this 21st century, a Community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, do not have school.
“We should have a nearby Community primary school at least before getting to secondary. We also need a health centre. When the NDDC Health Centre was operating here, people were coming all the way from Abuloma and other areas but as things went on, it got dilapidated.
“We have water, but the water is not functional and the tap has not been extended to areas it is supposed to reach. If you can assist us to see that these three things are functional, it will be a plus to the Ngo called CODE”, Chief Fimie said as he thanked CODE for coming, praying that they do their best.
On his part, the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, Mr. Standfast Fimie expressed excitement over CODE’s advocacy activities on Community improvement.
Mr. Fimie reiterated the views of others, saying that government would not want to do everything, and appealed, “I want you people to please help us, that our health centre that has been turned to a disease control centre should please be returned back to a health centre.
“You have seen the signboard there written that it is for Doctors Emergency Training, I want to bet any government official or health officer to come and open that place. You will agree with me that that place was not designed for Doctors Emergency Training, it is for disease control centre”.
The CDC chairman recalled that they buy water everyday due to lack of water in the community, stressing the importance of reviving the water scheme.
“The tank we showed you people there, if we rehabilitate it, running pipes into the community, it will be of a great benefit and we will appreciate,” he stated.
Mr. Standfast Fimie, drew the attention of the visitors to the fact that Fimie is a host community to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, but lamented that they are being marginalized. He appealed to CODE to help his community become part of those who are hosts to NDDC.
“So, whatever it is that you will do for us relating us with NDDC, do so that whatever benefits host communities are enjoying, let us be part of it”, he added.
