President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday launched the National Monitoring and Evaluation platform, EYEMARK.
The President launched the project monitoring website (www.eyemark.ng) with its accompanying mobile app shortly before the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He noted that the Federal Government could no longer depend on its handful of Monitoring and Evaluation teams to oversee the vast number of infrastructure projects spread nationwide.
He said that given that his regime has invested in infrastructure projects more than any other before, it is only fitting to create adequate avenues for close monitoring by citizens.
The President said that this would close the existing gaps and promote citizens’ participation in governance.
He also blamed the spate of corruption on the poor implementation of infrastructure projects across the country.
With EYEMARK, the President said, “the status of projects, total amount appropriated and dispensed so far are now available in the public space”.
Earlier, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba said that EYEMARK would empower citizens and Civil Society Organisations to monitor capital projects in real-time to promote accountability.
Agba noted that the platform leverages a large network of citizens who can monitor projects in their localities.
He however warned that relying on the public comes with the risk of misinformation.
He said that EYEMARK has been equipped with spatial technology to track images and ascertain their origins.
“If a user is in Kaduna, we can determine the authenticity of the reviews. And we can know if the image was uploaded from the location the user claimed it was sent from”, he explained.
Agba also revealed that the website and its accompanying app were developed by Nigerians of the average age of 24, with inputs from stakeholders and industry experts.
Before the meeting, the council observed a minute silence for a departed member, Mr Demola Seriki, a former Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources under the Umaru Yar’Adua administration.
Seriki, 63, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain. He died on 15th December at 63,
In attendance were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; and Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan.
Also physically attending the meeting were Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed; Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare; Minsiter of Science and Technology, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; and Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingiyadi.
Others were Minister of States for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba; that of Environment, Ms Sharon Ikeazor and Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Joining virtually were the Ministers of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Communications and Digital Economy, Prof,OIsa Pantami; Defence, Bashir Magashi; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; and his state counterpart, Senator Gbemisola Saraki; Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management, Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq; Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; and Industry, Trade and Investment (State), Mrs Maryam Katagum.
