MonITNG Raises Alarm Over Early Deterioration Of Ekpoma–Esan West Road

A civic technology platform, MonITNG, has raised concerns over the reported early deterioration of sections of the Ekpoma–Esan West Local Government Area Expressway in Edo State, urging Governor Monday Okpebholo to demand explanations from the agencies and contractors handling the project.

MonITNG, which promotes citizen participation in monitoring public projects and accessing government data, disclosed its concerns in a post on its official X handle on Monday.

The platform alleged that some portions of the road were already showing signs of failure barely months after construction, despite the project yet to be formally handed over to the Federal Government.

According to MonITNG, allowing such defects to persist until after commissioning could make it difficult to compel contractors to return to site, potentially leaving government and taxpayers to shoulder the cost of repairs.

It therefore called on Governor Okpebholo to provide clarity on the supervision and quality-control measures put in place for the project.

“Who is supervising the Ekpoma–Esan West LGA Expressway? Why are sections already failing before completion? Where is the accountability from the agencies responsible for ensuring quality?” the platform queried.

MonITNG stressed that its concerns were not aimed at opposing the road project but at ensuring that public funds were used to deliver durable infrastructure.

It said proper road construction required adequate soil testing, proper sub-base preparation and compaction, effective drainage, quality-certified asphalt and bitumen, independent supervision and strict enforcement of the Defects Liability Period.

The platform warned against a situation where roads are commissioned only to deteriorate shortly afterwards, leading to repeated repairs and re-awarding of contracts at additional costs to the government.

MonITNG urged the governor to demand answers from the supervising agency and ensure that any identified defects were rectified before the project is formally completed and handed over.

It added that residents of Edo State deserved infrastructure capable of serving communities for decades and reflecting the public funds invested in the project.