The African Leadership Strategy, Transparency Development Initiative (ALSTDI) has urged civic organization BudgIT to conduct thorough investigations and factual verifications before publishing reports on public projects, cautioning that inaccurate reporting could inadvertently mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of credible institutions.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Ossaieze, on Saturday, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, good governance, and institutional accountability through independent monitoring and constructive engagement.
The call followed ALSTDI’s independent fact-finding assessment, conducted as part of its corporate social responsibility activities, which addressed claims in BudgIT’s 2023/2024 Tracka report alleging that certain projects linked to the Federal Cooperative College (FCC), Oji River, were abandoned.
ALSTDI explained that its investigation, which entailed continuous procurement monitoring since 2021 and a recent physical verification exercise, confirmed that the projects in question were neither abandoned nor mismanaged, contrary to the allegations.
The statement read:
“The misrepresented projects cited include:
ERGP30212691 – Fencing of Government Boys Secondary School, Ibusa, Delta State:
Our findings reveal that the project was carried out at St. Thomas Boys College, Ibusa, and not Government Boys Secondary School as stated in the Tracka report. The construction company involved is Tonigate Multinational Services Ltd., a registered firm with verified records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“The fencing of over three hectares of land has been completed and is currently in use.
ERGP20231932 – Furnishing of a Hospital in Zone 9, Okafia, Bende L.G.A., Abia State:
Our findings disclosed that this was a constituency project sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, with the hospital sited in Igbere, not Okafia. Executed by Swiber Africa Ltd., the furnishing project was completed in 2023. However, the medical equipment is securely stored within the hospital pending the deployment of healthcare personnel and the resolution of security challenges in the area.”
ALSTDI noted that the Tracka report may have relied on assumptions without exhaustive verification, and that no Freedom of Information (FOI) request was sent to FCC Oji River for clarification before publication.
The group emphasized that while the contributions of civic organizations to transparency and accountability are commendable, such efforts must be built on rigorous fact-checking and direct engagement with institutions to maintain public trust.
“Our findings, supported by pictorial and documentary evidence, have been submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for formal review,” the statement added.
ALSTDI further recommended that civic actors should prioritize detailed field assessments and open institutional communication to ensure accuracy in public reporting, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s democratic accountability mechanisms.
