The Anambra State Government has summoned contractors handling road projects across the state to explain recurring cases of road failures and urgently repair sections found to be defective.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, met with the road contractors during a meeting in Awka, the state capital, where he expressed concerns over videos circulating on social media showing failed road sections.
Some of the videos, pushed across social media by opposition forces, made mockery of the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo over his promise that the roads were built to last for at least 20 years.
According to the Commissioner, the situation is embarrassing to Governor Soludo, the engineering profession and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
Ezeobi said the recurring failures, particularly on dualisation projects, had raised questions about the quality of workmanship and the professional competence of some contractors, despite the government’s introduction of stone-base construction to improve road durability.
He explained that the meeting was convened to enable contractors to identify the causes of the failures and determine appropriate corrective measures.
The commissioner directed all contractors to compile comprehensive inventories of roads constructed since the Soludo administration assumed office, inspect their current conditions and promptly repair any sections showing signs of deterioration.
He stressed that roads must provide motorists with smooth and safe journeys, noting that newly constructed or rehabilitated roads should not have noticeable defects.
Ezeobi disclosed that he would submit an independent report to the governor and recommend stricter commitments from contractors to ensure that projects meet approved engineering standards.
“Anambra State Government has fulfilled its financial obligations by paying duly generated certificates for completed work. Contractors must reciprocate by delivering durable infrastructure that provides value for public funds,” he said.
Identifying possible causes of road failures, Ezeobi listed poor-quality asphalt, inadequate compaction, insufficient moisture control and the use of untested construction materials.
He directed contractors to ensure that all materials undergo the required laboratory tests and receive appropriate certification before being used on construction sites.
According to him, the prescribed tests must be conducted along the entire length of each project rather than relying on isolated assessments that might not accurately reflect the overall quality of the work.
He also emphasised strict compliance with established engineering procedures, including proper compaction in layers and adherence to the ministry’s approval processes.
The commissioner directed contractors to formally notify the ministry whenever they are ready to undertake compaction to enable officials to carry out the necessary inspections and quality-control checks.
He raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest where contractors subcontract drainage construction to their own engineering representatives, stressing the need for independent supervision and accountability.
The commissioner warned that drainage structures confirmed to have failed would be removed and reconstructed to meet the required engineering standards.
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As part of the immediate corrective measures, Ezeobi directed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Dr. Martin Agbili, to formally write to contractors requesting comprehensive lists of roads they had constructed under the present administration.
“The contractors are expected to inspect the roads, assess their conditions and undertake urgent repairs wherever defects are discovered,” Ezeobi said.
Providing an update on road construction, the commissioner disclosed that approximately 741 kilometres of roads had been asphalted across Anambra State under the Soludo administration.
He noted that many of the roads remained in good condition, explaining that the meeting was prompted by the need to address failures identified on some projects and prevent further occurrences.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening quality control and supervision, insisting that the state would not compromise standards and that contractors must take responsibility for the durability and integrity of the projects entrusted to them.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Dr. Martin Agbili, and other ministry officials.
