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President Muhammadu, on Wednesday, launched the National Monitoring and Evaluation platform, the “EYEMARK”.
Buhari 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.
The President 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 had invested in infrastructure projects more than any other before, it was only fitting to create adequate avenues for close monitoring by citizens.
He said this would close the existing gaps and promote citizens’ participation in governance.
Buhari 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.”
He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to cooperate with the coordinating ministry, Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning to avail the required information to be captured on the platform.
In his address earlier, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, said “EYEMARK” would empower citizens and Civil Society Organisations to monitor capital projects in real-time to promote accountability.
Agba noted that the platform leveraged a large network of citizens who could monitor projects in their localities.
However, he warned that “relying on the public comes with the risk of misinformation.”
He said EYEMARK had been equipped with geospatial 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 disclosed that the website and its accompanying app were developed by Nigerians of the average age of 24, with input from stakeholders and industry experts.
Meanwhile, Agba has taken to his Social media handles to celebrate the historic achievement.
Hr said he was honoured to join His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Vice-President and cabinet members for the official launch of EYEMARK, the National Monitoring and Evaluation Tool, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, today, at the State House.
According to him: “Eyemark uses geospatial technology and enables citizens and residents of Nigeria to give feedback on capital project implementation, while government can also analyse the public opinion of a project and take much-needed action.
“This launch is historic and marks yet another milestone in the annals of our collective efforts made towards achieving a transparent, accountable, participatory, and data-driven government by the administration of Mr President.
“I urge Nigerians to sign up on eyemark.ng to start monitoring project execution in their communities, as the days of budgeting for a world-class bridge and receiving a makeshift wooden bridge are now behind us.”
