Detailed account of how N40million constituency project upsets market communities in Enugu State. In this investigation, AYO IBIKUNLE tracked the already appropriated funds for oral screening of rural market men, women and children in selected rural communities of the state.
Succinctly captured in the 2019 National Budget is a 40million constituency project aimed at addressing the dental need through oral screening for market men, women and children for prevention of Cancerum Oris” in four communities in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Abor, Ukana, Okpatu and Ngwor, are hard to reach rural communities in Enugu State. These communities are typical of rural communities in Nigeria. Clean water, good access road, health care and essential livelihood facilities are wanting, where these infrastructures are available – in very few instances – they are moribund, in poor quality and inadequate. Udi is in Enugu West, represented by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a flambouyant former deputy President of the Senate, who is serving his 4th term as Senator.
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Abor, Ukana and Okpatu is on a long stretch of dilapidated road, the buses and men on bike make hard effort at dodging the pot holes which decorates major portion of the road. Just about 50 meters behind the Abor bus stop is an open space with shades of trees and handful of closed shops. It is the market, popularly called Orie- Abor market. Orie-Abor market is a typical village square market, a few market women share long wooden desk to exhibit vegetables, tomatoes, pepper and several assortment of cooking ingredient on the hard wooden slates. The large trees strategically located at four locations within the basket ball field-like dusty market serve as shades from the Sun.
This reporter met with Nicholas Ochi, the market chairman, who is lucky to own one of the 4 block-built shops. Ochi was happy to be informed that his market was captured in the budget but he was disappointed for the reasons.
When informed that Orie-Abor market has been prioritised for oral screening of their men, women and children, he looked confused. “Oral health is good but that is not what we need in this market” he queried. True, just a fraction of the budget for the screening could transform the market and make it world class in their eyes.
Ochi raised an important question which renders the constituency project a suspicious tag “we wouldn’t even have thought about oral screening if we were in the first place consulted before inserting our need in the budget”. Ochi said neither he nor any member of the market leadership was briefed or consulted before the insertion of the project into the budget: “I believe that in things like this, we should first be consulted with and asked what our needs and priorities are. If that was done, certainly we wouldn’t have chosen oral screen against infrastructure improvement of the market, none of our members have any issue with their tooth, so I don’t know why the project was necessary in the first place”. He said.
Eke-Ugwu market at Ukani is barely a handful. At the time this reporter visited, it was not a full market day. There were only 5 standard small size block constructed shops. Beside the block constructed shops were 2 mud-built shops completely resting on a firmly dug bamboo; the two owners have their wears spread on a wooden desk. It appears risky to have any serious activities within the mud-shops; an additional human pressure will see it crumbling. It serves only as store for goods.
Eze Patrick, the chairman of the market union who was not present at the market because of his other business engagements opted to have a telephone conversation. Patrick sounded like a man of clear thoughts; he listened intently, trying to understand every word said: “I must be very frank with you my brother, the government is not doing anything for us, did you see the market? Hardly is the value of everything in that market worth five hundred thousand naira. I have been in this market for many years, we have not seen the presence of the government, we are not aware of anything like oral screening” Patrick said. He insisted that what they need in the community is basic infrastructure, not screening of their oral health.
At Ekeani market, the biggest and apparently most organised market at Ngwor, there appears to be more patronage than hinterland market of Abor, Ukani and Okpatu. Orji Godwin, the market union chairman of Ekeani market, noted that oral screening of any type is needed in the market and its environs but that it is certainly not the priority. “If we were asked what we wanted as a market, we will tell the government to upgrade this market, rebuild it to make it look conducive”. Although Ngwor is not located within Enugu West, it is captured in the budget as part of the constituency project alongside the three communities – Abor, Ukana and Okpatu.
All the market union heads in the four community markets insists that at no time were they consulted and that there has not been oral screening of market men, women and children in the market. This reporter also visited medical centres close to the markets to determine if the project was conceived as a result of reported high incidence of dental health challenges.
The chief medical officer at Ekwerembe Hospital, less than 500 meters from Ekeani market was not willing to make official comment but offered to share statistical content of medical record within the catchment area of the constituency project. The medical record indicates a prevalence of maternal-child and reproductive health challenges. According to the medical record obtained from the hospital, there are no cases of dental conditions within the last one year to justify the recommendation of the constituency project for oral screening.
From our investigations, Senator Ekweremadu did not comply with the basic routine for getting constituency project into the budget; he didn’t consult with the target beneficiaries to determine their own priority. When contacted, Uche Anichukwu, Senator Ekweremadu’s spokesman he begged for time to respond but failed to respond after several calls.
When contacted, Uche Anichkwu, Senator Ekweremadu’s spokesperson said it was not possible for constituency project to be captured into the budget without first consultation with the beneficiaries, a claim all interviewed market union leaders debunked.
