The Federal Government on Thursday intensified efforts to overhaul the management of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects, gathering legislators, diplomats and senior public officials in Abuja to review accountability lapses and chart new approaches for the N4.7 trillion worth of projects captured in the 2025 national budget.

At the interactive forum organised by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, participants examined recurring gaps in project delivery and explored ways to ensure that government-funded interventions translate into real improvements for underserved communities.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Rt. Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, revealed that 110 constituency and zonal projects across the country were verified and certified in the third quarter of 2025.

He said the process formed part of a renewed push for stronger monitoring frameworks and deeper engagement with beneficiary communities.

Jisalo noted that President Bola Tinubu had issued clear directives mandating community involvement in project conception and maintenance, stressing that development initiatives, from school upgrades and borehole installations to agricultural and medical outreach programmes, would only endure if residents take ownership.

He warned implementing agencies to adhere strictly to guidelines issued in September 2023, cautioning that violators risk prosecution by anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC.

According to him, the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda marks a deliberate departure from past practices, with accountability now considered non-negotiable for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

A communiqué outlining resolutions from the forum is expected to be released at the end of the deliberations.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who delivered goodwill remarks, praised the ministry for creating a platform that strengthens cooperation between the legislature and MDAs.

He reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that government interventions reach remote communities where they are most needed.

A guest presentation by Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Bashir, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Abuja, underscored the broader national outcomes tied to constituency projects.

He highlighted economic reforms, infrastructure expansion, SME development, improved security, job creation and stronger education systems as central to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.