President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a digital application called ‘Eyemark’, by which government expenditure on capital projects will be monitored and evaluated.
Eyemark would provide regular updates on the status of capital projects across the country through bottom-up interactive processes and would be fully involved at every stage, including knowing the cost, structure, benefit, and framework for maintenance after completion.
The President said the creation of Eyemark was propelled by the government’s desire to edge forward in promoting sustainable development and give citizens unimpeded access to information on stakeholders, including contract terms and the contractors.
President Buhari, who launched the digital application at the Council Chamber of the State House, also said the innovation would help to forestall the practice of abandoning projects as all stakeholders, like communities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), contractors, ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as citizens would continually interact on one platform.
“The Eyemark application tackles the two major constraints we have faced as a country in our monitoring and evaluation efforts. Eyemark introduces a digital approach to monitoring & evaluation in the Federal Government that gives MDAs the ability to harness geospatial and project implementation data on a continuous basis.
“With the Eyemark application, Nigerians worldwide can access project information with the click of a button. Project data such as its status, timeline, executing contractors, the amount appropriated and spent so far, amongst others, are now available in the public space”.
“With the ability for citizens to give reviews and feedback in real-time on projects around them, we are closing the existing gaps and promoting participation in governance”, the president said.
President Buhari implored MDAs to furnish the application with the relevant data and information for all current and future projects, as the Eyemark application offers an opportunity to sensitise and advertise to the world the goals and magnitude of infrastructure projects being carried out by the government.
The President charged MDAs and State Governments to work together in extending the effort across all tiers of government to promote a more robust and contextual database of projects.
The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, had said the Eyemark project was inspired by monitoring and evaluation during the Covid-19 pandemic by the ministry and realised by talented young Nigerians.
He said the homegrown and nationally coordinated application had transited governments from the era of earmarking projects, with little or no monitoring tools, to eye marking, where all stakeholders will be fully involved at every stage.
Prince Agba said the digital application would be extended to states and development partners for free.
Bello Wakili
