By Our Correspondent
Road contractors in Anambra State are in hot soup as the state government has summoned them to explain recurring road failures and carry out urgent repairs on defective roads.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, gave the directive during a meeting with contractors, warning that the government would no longer tolerate poor workmanship, substandard materials and avoidable road failures.
The move follows growing public outrage over deteriorating roads and drainage problems across the state, with videos of failed road sections recently circulating on social media.
Among the affected routes reported are sections of the Amawbia-Agulu Road, Umunze-Umuchu bypass and Nnobi-Nkpor Road.
Ezeobi described the situation as embarrassing to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the engineering profession.
He directed contractors to inspect all roads constructed under the Soludo administration and immediately repair identified defects.
The commissioner blamed possible causes of road failure on poor-quality asphalt, inadequate compaction, poor moisture control and the use of untested construction materials.
He ordered strict compliance with approved engineering specifications, laboratory testing and quality control procedures, warning contractors against compromising standards.
Ezeobi also directed contractors to remove and reconstruct failed drainage structures where necessary, stressing that effective drainage and proper supervision were critical to road durability.
He further instructed contractors to notify the ministry before commencing compaction work to enable officials to conduct the necessary inspections.
As part of the measures, the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Dr. Martin Agbili, is to request comprehensive lists of roads constructed by contractors under the present administration.
The contractors are expected to assess the condition of the roads and undertake repairs wherever defects are identified.
Ezeobi insisted that contractors must take responsibility for the quality of their work, noting that the government had paid duly processed certificates for completed projects.
He said public funds must translate into durable roads that meet approved engineering standards and guarantee the safety of road users.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s 20-year road guarantee, disclosing that about 741 kilometres of roads had been asphalted under the Soludo administration.
He said the ministry would strengthen monitoring and quality control to ensure that contractors delivered durable projects and corrected defects for which they were contractually responsible.
