Pecohub Ebonyi State government has ordered the contractor handling section 3 of the Isu-Oriegu-Obeagu-Ezzaegu road, Dominic Okechukwu to stop work on the road immediately over alleged use of substandard materials.
The State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Felix Igboke gave the order while inspecting ongoing projects across the state at the weekend.
Igboke expressed displeasure that despite well known specifications in concrete road construction, some contractors use substandard materials, thereby wasting funds and efforts of the state government to construct durable roads in all parts of the state.
Particularly, he frowned at the quality of work on the section 3 of the Isu-Oriegu-Obeagu-Ezzaegu road in Onicha Local Government Area of the state and issued an order of stop work forthwith until the appropriate quality of materials are used.
Igboke also decried the quality of work being executed on the Nwode/Ndiegu Echara road in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state and urged the contractor to take correction and immediately start creating expansion joint on the road to curb crack.
Igboke urged all contractors handling the state government concrete road projects to speed up their work before raining season sets in.
“We have noticed some discrepancies in BRC. Some are okay while some are less than standard specifications. It is quality work or nothing. We are poised to construct quality roads of fifty years guarantee for our people.
“So, if it is a mistake, it should be removed immediately. We have already sized the one we saw on the road which is not up to specifications. So, let the contractor continue with the specified standard quality of materials,” he ordered.
He further ordered the contractor to immediately provide a water tanker to wet the floor and cure the concrete on the project to guarantee durability.
The commissioner also inspected the internal roads in Izzo/ Amaeze communities, in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state and the 140 unit housing projects in the two communities being constructed for those affected by the crisis between the people of Ezillo/Ezza-Ezillo.
He assured that the housing units, internal roads and drainages that are ongoing, will be completed before the rains set in.
