An accountability organisation, the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has backed concerns raised by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, over the quality of the Odomoke-Ekelibe bridge under construction in Ebonyi state, alleging widespread poor contract execution under the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The group, in a statement on Thursday signed by its President Worldwide, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, said a viral video showing Nwebonyi inspecting the two-span bridge alongside an expatriate contractor and pointing out structural defects was evidence of what it described as poor-quality infrastructure projects across the state.
According to AEISCID, the incident reinforced its longstanding concerns about the standard of public works being executed in Ebonyi, accusing the state government of failing to adequately supervise projects and ensure value for public funds.
The group alleged that several road projects awarded across communities in the state had either been abandoned, poorly executed or cancelled due to substandard performance, while it also cited the prolonged construction of the Vanco flyover tunnel, which it claimed had remained incomplete for nearly three years.
It further alleged that the state had become “a huge construction joke” under Governor Nwifuru, despite the governor’s self-description as a “Builder.”
AEISCID also raised concerns over the procurement process for public contracts, alleging that many multimillion and multibillion-naira projects were awarded through single-source bidding to little-known or newly registered companies with unverifiable addresses.
The association referenced media reports alleging that a contract worth over N6.2 billion for the construction of model classroom blocks was awarded to a company linked to the governor’s wife, noting that, to its knowledge, the report had not been officially refuted.
The group said it agreed with Senator Nwebonyi’s observations on the bridge project, arguing that the defects identified were visible and should not be dismissed.
It, however, rejected the explanation offered by the Commissioner for Infrastructure Concession, Engr. Abara, who reportedly said the affected section was a temporary structure intended to receive construction materials before the final overlay.
AEISCID questioned what it described as the widespread presence of poor-quality concrete projects across the state and accused the government of failing to respond to public concerns over infrastructure delivery.
The association also faulted the state government for allegedly failing to sanction contractors responsible for substandard jobs, insisting that poor project supervision had encouraged recurring defects.
It called for the enforcement of the Ebonyi State Fiscal Responsibility Act No. 3 of 2008 against any contractor or public official found to have violated procurement and fiscal accountability rules.
The group further urged the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to investigate alleged breaches of the law and take appropriate constitutional measures where necessary.
AEISCID also criticised the governor’s performance after more than three years in office, alleging that no major project had been fully completed and commissioned despite increased federal allocations to the state.
It accused the administration of avoiding accountability and focusing more on political activities ahead of the 2027 elections than on completing ongoing infrastructure projects.
The association urged the government to prioritise effective supervision and timely completion of ongoing projects, rather than what it described as premature re-election campaigns.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Government had not issued a response to AEISCID’s latest allegations. The Commissioner for Infrastructure Concession had earlier maintained that the observed defect on the Odomoke-Ekelibe bridge was part of a temporary construction process and not a structural failure.