BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has issued a tough ultimatum to contractors handling public infrastructure projects, warning that any job falling short of approved standards will be rejected and redone at the contractor’s expense.
The directive, delivered during an on-site inspection of key road projects in Edo South Senatorial District, underscores the administration’s hardline stance against substandard construction and signals a sweeping enforcement drive across the state.
Speaking to journalists, the Special Adviser on Projects Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Williams-Bello Phoebe, said the government would no longer tolerate poor-quality delivery under any guise, stressing that only projects that meet stipulated specifications would be certified and paid for.
She conveyed the position of Governor Monday Okpebholo, noting that the administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on compromised standards as part of its broader commitment to accountability and value for money.
According to her, a comprehensive monitoring exercise has already commenced across the three senatorial districts—Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South to ensure strict compliance with contractual terms and uniformity in project execution statewide.
“We want all contractors to understand clearly that this administration places the highest premium on quality control. We have commenced curing processes on projects that have reached pavement level, including the binder and wearing course. There is absolutely no room for substandard work,” she said.
Phoebe explained that beyond enforcing engineering standards, the ongoing inspection regime is aimed at safeguarding public funds and ensuring that infrastructure projects deliver long-term benefits to residents.
She warned that any contractor found to have delivered below standard would be compelled to reconstruct the affected sections entirely at their own cost, insisting that the state would not bear the financial burden of poor workmanship.
The Special Adviser also advised contractors whose projects are still at early stages to comply voluntarily with required standards before inspection teams arrive, noting that the government’s intention is not punitive but corrective.
“I urge contractors yet to reach the pavement stage to do the right thing. We do not want a situation where it appears we are witch-hunting anyone when we direct that defective work be scarified and redone,” she added.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to professionalism and durability in infrastructure delivery, Phoebe stressed that all projects executed under Governor Okpebholo must meet contractual benchmarks and stand the test of time.
The state-wide monitoring exercise forms part of the government’s broader push to align infrastructure development with its policy agenda while improving living conditions for citizens across Edo State.
