Adhere to specifications, Edo Assembly urges contractors

Edo State House of Assembly Special Ad-hoc Committee on Project Inspection, headed by Hon. Addeh Isibor, has charged contractors handling government projects across the state to strictly adhere to specifications and deliver quality jobs that justify the huge investments being made by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Hon. Isibor, who gave the charge at the weekend during the committee’s ongoing project inspection tour, said the House was encouraged by the governor’s deliberate efforts at opening up new communities through strategic road construction.

He noted that the level of interconnectivity being created, if sustained, would significantly reduce traffic congestion across Edo State.

According to him, the selection of roads currently under construction reflects deep analytical planning, as each project is designed to ease traffic pressure and provide alternative access routes for residents.

He expressed optimism that with continuity, traffic challenges in the state would soon become a thing of the past.

However, the committee issued a stern warning to contractors handling state projects, stressing that it would not condone shoddy jobs or the misuse of public funds.

Hon. Isibor declared that the committee was not a “hallelujah committee” and would not hesitate to recommend the termination of contracts where work fell below acceptable standards.

He emphasized that Edo people would not be short-changed under any guise, adding that the committee would inspect projects in even the most remote locations to ensure that Governor Okpebholo’s vision of quality and durability was fully implemented.

During an inspection of the Upper Ekehuan Road in Igo Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area, the committee urged the contractor handling the dualisation and construction of the single carriageway to increase the pace of work so that residents could begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Hon. Isibor noted that although rainfall affected a full assessment of some sections of the road, the committee was impressed that the contractor remained on site despite the weather challenges.

He described the exercise as part of the legislature’s continuous oversight of projects being executed under the Okpebholo administration.

Other members of the committee, including the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Atu Osamwonyi, Hon. Kingsley Ugabi, Hon. Yekini Idaiye and Hon. Donald Okogbe, described the Upper Ekehuan Road as a major legacy project, praising the quality of the toll-bin works while calling for a significant increase in construction speed to meet public expectations.

Providing technical details, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects, Engr. Phoebe Williams-Bello, disclosed that the 12.6-kilometre road project has recorded over one kilometre of toll-bin construction on both sides, with about 850 metres of earthworks completed, identifying rainfall as the major constraint.

The committee also inspected other ongoing projects, including Catholic Charismatic Renewal Road in Ugbihoko Quarters, Palace Road along Upper Mission Road, Ekiuwa–UNIBEN Road and Temboga Road, where contractors were commended for the quality and consistency of work so far.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Atu Osamwonyi, described the projects as visible, impactful and clear evidence of Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to delivering tangible development for the people of Edo State.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Felix Akhabue, assured that the ministry would intensify monitoring to ensure faster project delivery. He expressed optimism that with the onset of the dry season, construction activities would advance more rapidly across the state.