Ebonyi Suspends Road Project, Seizes Substandard Construction Materials

The Ebonyi State Government has suspended work on the Ogbaga Road project in Ebonyi Local Government Area after discovering the use of substandard construction materials at the site.

The Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Sunday Inyima, ordered the immediate confiscation of the materials during a statewide inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects.

He directed the contractor handling the project to halt all construction activities until a formal commitment is made to comply strictly with approved engineering designs and project specifications.

Inyima accused some contractors of undermining Governor Francis Nwifuru’s infrastructure agenda by using inferior materials, describing the practice as “economic sabotage.”

He warned that the government would no longer tolerate poor-quality construction, adding that contractors who fail to meet required standards risk arrest and prosecution.

“From all indications, we may have to conduct future inspections with security personnel because the arrest of defaulting contractors at project sites is becoming inevitable,” the commissioner said.

While expressing dissatisfaction with the Ogbaga Road project, Inyima commended engineers at the University of Aeronautics Faculty Building project for maintaining quality standards and urged them to sustain the pace of work without compromising specifications.

The inspection team also revisited several previously inspected projects, including the male and female hostels at ICT University, Oferekpe, the Oferekpe Internal Road, the Ogbaga Road/Randa Bridge, and the Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital in Nwofe.

During the visits, the commissioner expressed concern over the absence of key technical personnel at some sites and ordered the immediate suspension of work on projects operating without qualified site engineers or approved working drawings.

He reiterated that the Nwifuru administration remains committed to delivering durable infrastructure across the education, healthcare, industrial and transport sectors.

Inyima added that the Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation would intensify unannounced inspections across the state’s three senatorial zones to ensure strict compliance with construction standards.

He further directed all contractors handling government projects to adhere to the ministry’s guidelines or face appropriate sanctions.