The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has commended the Abia State Government for qualifying for a $500,000 World Bank-backed governance grant, while urging state officials to implement the programme transparently and with input from civil society.
Abia secured the funding under the HOPE Governance Performance Grant after meeting a set of governance benchmarks tied to public financial management, transparency, and accountability. FENRAD said the achievement shows that genuine reforms toward open governance can attract development funding and build public trust in state institutions.
In a statement, the group praised state officials for meeting the programme’s requirements and called on them to sustain the reforms already underway, framing citizen interests as central to further institutional change.
But FENRAD cautioned that the grant’s real test lies ahead. The organization said the funds’ value will depend not on their disbursement, but on whether they translate into stronger governance systems, better service delivery, and tangible benefits for residents.
To that end, FENRAD is pushing for an inclusive rollout that brings in civil society groups, community representatives, development partners, professional bodies, and ordinary citizens. The group argues that this kind of collaboration builds public trust and gives the reform process a better chance of lasting.
FENRAD placed particular emphasis on formally including civil society organizations throughout implementation, arguing that such groups bring technical expertise, grassroots reach, and independent oversight capacity that can complement government work. Their involvement in planning, monitoring, and evaluation, the group said, would strengthen transparency, improve project outcomes, and support compliance with the programme’s accountability goals.
The organisation is calling on the state government to set up regular stakeholder engagement platforms, publish progress reports on implementation, and keep communication channels open so citizens can take part meaningfully in the reform process.
FENRAD also offered to work with the state government directly, saying it is prepared to provide technical support in civic engagement, transparency initiatives, social accountability, policy advocacy, and independent monitoring and evaluation.
