We Arrest Defaulting Contractors Almost Every Week in Ebonyi — Igboke
Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Engineer Felix Igboke Ogbonna, has revealed that the state government frequently arrests contractors who fail to meet agreed project specifications.
Igboke made the disclosure on Friday while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, stating that the crackdown targets contractors who breach contractual terms, not indiscriminately selected contract awardees as widely speculated.
According to him, there is hardly a week or two without the ministry apprehending one or two engineers found compromising standards at project sites across the state.
“There is no week or two weeks that we do not arrest one or two erring engineers on site,” he said, dismissing claims that some contractors receive preferential treatment. He explained that such enforcement actions are often not made public for administrative reasons.
The commissioner noted that his ministry undertakes deliberate and strategic supervision of projects awarded by the state government in various communities, clans and villages to ensure strict adherence to approved specifications.
He explained that ministries such as Works or Infrastructure prepare the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) and enter into agreements with contractors. Once the contract documents reach the Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation, oversight begins in line with the approved Bill of Quantities and project designs.
“If I tell you we don’t see people trying to do funny things on projects, I will be lying to you,” he said. “But our duty is not to witch-hunt anyone or collect money from contractors. Our responsibility is to ensure projects are executed according to specifications, in quality and within the agreed timeline.”
On public concerns about uncommissioned projects, Igboke maintained that most projects under Governor have been completed and are already serving the people.
“As people keep saying ‘commissioning, commissioning,’ my question is: why are you using the roads if they are not commissioned? There is no completed road that has been blocked from public use,” he said.
He added that several projects are ready for inauguration and assured that once the governor commences commissioning, the exercise will continue extensively.
“I can confidently say the governor has delivered on his mandate and even surpassed what he promised Ebonyians. Once he starts commissioning projects, it will not stop. I urge the people to remain calm,” Igboke stated.
