Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government has urged contractors and project supervisors to strictly adhere to professional standards in project execution to ensure quality infrastructure delivery across the state.
The charge was given at the close of a two-day capacity-building workshop on quality assurance, professional site supervision and improved project delivery organised for contractors and stakeholders involved in project execution in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking at the event held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Director-General of the Abia State Projects Implementation Bureau (ASPIB), Mr Onyinye Nwosu, said the training was aimed at strengthening project implementation processes and ensuring that the state gets value for funds spent on infrastructure.
According to him, the workshop was designed to build the capacity of contractors, procurement entities and other stakeholders to align project execution with international best practices.
“All we are doing is building the capacity of procurement entities and vendors to ensure they deliver quality projects to the state.
“The charge is for participants to take the knowledge gained, return to their organisations and become quality champions who will promote best practices across MDAs,” Nwosu said.
He noted that the workshop examined critical stages of project implementation, including project initiation, planning, execution and supervision, to ensure projects are properly structured from the outset and to avoid costly mistakes during implementation.
Nwosu stressed that effective quality control requires strict monitoring of materials used, proper supervision of ongoing work and adherence to safety standards at project sites.
He added that beyond sound engineering designs and planning, the competence and professionalism of personnel on site remain key to the successful delivery of projects.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Alex Otti to institutionalise a culture of quality, transparency and accountability in governance and infrastructure development.
He said the state government is working to re-engineer operational standards across public institutions so that quality delivery becomes the norm in project execution.
“Contractors must follow established procedures, provide required documentation and, in some cases, present video evidence to demonstrate that project standards are being maintained at different stages of execution,” he added.
Also speaking, the Director of Procurement at the Abia State Public Procurement Bureau, Dr Chiukpai Okwara, said the workshop was aimed at strengthening procurement processes and ensuring transparency in government projects.
He explained that procurement plays a critical role in infrastructure development and must be guided by strict standards to guarantee value for public funds.
Okwara stressed the need to move away from past practices where projects were poorly monitored and contracts were sometimes awarded to unqualified contractors, resulting in substandard work.
A participant at the workshop and civil engineer, Engr. Oki Isaac, described the training as beneficial to professionals in the construction industry.
He said discussions on inspection and test plans highlighted the importance of structured monitoring systems for testing building materials, verifying construction processes and approving work at critical stages.
According to him, when proper monitoring and professional standards are followed, construction projects are more likely to meet expected quality and safety benchmarks.
Isaac added that quality project delivery requires teamwork, competence and professionalism among all stakeholders involved in the construction process.
