Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Ebonyi State Government has intensified its crackdown on irregularities in the multi-billion-naira Ring Road project, ordering the arrest of some contractors, consultants, and members of the State Projects Implementation Units (SPIU) over alleged conspiracy to defraud the state.
The order was given by the Chairman of the Ring Road Steering Committee and Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, during a meeting on Friday to appraise the level of compliance with the government’s earlier resolution and Action Plan. He said the contractors’ continued neglect of their sites despite payments had become intolerable.
Mbam expressed disappointment over what he described as “fraudulent and nonchalant attitudes” among the contractors, stressing that their actions amounted to sabotage against the government’s development vision.
He said Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru had on several occasions directed the contractors to ensure prudent management of resources and live up to their contractual obligations.
According to him, the governor had earlier convened a project implementation review meeting with contractors, the Steering Committee, and SPIU members where he expressed dissatisfaction with the poor pace of work. At that meeting, the governor directed that all contractors who had received mobilization fees should immediately return to sites.
The Steering Committee, however, observed during Friday’s appraisal meeting that there was a total absence of compliance with the directive. Instead, it discovered a web of conspiracy involving some contractors, consultants, and SPIU officials allegedly working together to defraud the state government.
Among the misdeeds highlighted were reckless project abandonment, deliberate delays in implementation, misappropriation of funds, and fraudulent collection of overpayments. The committee also faulted situations where consultants were allowed to issue certificates in place of project engineers.
Mbam explained that the role of project engineer is the statutory responsibility of civil servants who could be held accountable for service delivery. He warned that engaging consultants in such sensitive roles only opens doors for abuse and compromises the integrity of the entire project.
The committee advised contractors and consultants who may have collected unapproved funds to immediately return them to government coffers or face legal consequences.
“There will be no sacred cows,” Mbam warned, insisting that the administration is determined to sanitize the system and ensure the Ring Road project is delivered to standard.
As part of the crackdown, representatives of some defaulting firms including Kakatar CE Limited and Marco Kings Engineering Limited as well as a consultant and some SPIU officials, have been handed over to the police. They are currently assisting investigators in unraveling the financial irregularities and conspiracy claims.
The Ebonyi Ring Road project is one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in the state’s history, linking multiple local government areas and aimed at boosting trade and rural connectivity. The state government said it would not allow a few contractors and insiders to undermine such a strategic project through fraud and negligence.
