Abia Government Strengthens Infrastructure Delivery, Trains Contractors And MDAs On Quality Standards
The Abia State Government has reinforced its commitment to delivering durable and high-quality infrastructure with the successful completion of a two-day capacity building workshop on quality assurance and quality control for contractors and government officials.
The workshop, organised by the Abia State Projects Implementation Bureau (ASPIB), brought together contractors, engineers, project managers and representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, to enhance technical competence and strengthen project delivery systems across the state.
Speaking during the opening session, the Director General of ASPIB, Mr. Onyinye Nwosu, said the training was designed to promote collaboration between contractors and government agencies while ensuring that public infrastructure projects meet global standards and deliver value for public funds.
The workshop, themed “Quality Execution: A Shared Ownership in Building High-Quality Resilient Infrastructure Through Collaborative Project Management,” reflects the administration’s drive to institutionalise excellence and sustainability in infrastructure development.
Nwosu noted that the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Dr. Alex Otti, whose administration has transformed Abia into a major construction hub through ongoing road, building and infrastructure projects across the state.
According to him, the workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss the quality assurance and quality control processes guiding project implementation in the state.
“We all know that our dear Governor has transformed the state into a massive construction site. In order to ensure that we deliver infrastructure that can stand the test of time and remain sustainable, we must apply the right quality assurance and quality control processes,” Nwosu said.
He stressed that infrastructure development must be approached with a long-term perspective.
“We have to think about 50 to 100 years from now. That means putting in place the right quality assurance and quality control processes, and it cannot be done without carrying along our contractors and stakeholders,” he added.
Delivering a technical presentation on geotechnical and geological exploration, Engineer Prince Chukwudi highlighted the importance of proper soil and site investigations before the commencement of construction projects.
He explained that many infrastructure failures occur when projects begin without adequate geological studies, noting that proper site investigation ensures that project designs align with ground realities and prevents cost overruns and structural defects.
“If a project is expected to cost about $100,000, lack of proper geological exploration could push the cost to $200,000 or more. That is why these investigations are critical before construction begins,” he said.
A participant and Senior Project Controller at ASPIB, Mr. Chukwuma Okolo, described the workshop as a significant step towards reforming project implementation systems in Nigeria.
He explained that the creation of the bureau by Governor Otti was aimed at addressing decades of inefficiencies and wastage associated with poorly executed or abandoned public projects.
“ASPIB is essentially a preventive mechanism that ensures projects are executed according to prescribed standards so that contractors and government officials alike are protected and public funds are not wasted,” Okolo said.
At the closing session of the workshop, Mr. Nwosu charged participants to return to their various organisations as “quality champions” who will advocate for strict adherence to professional standards in project execution.
He explained that the training focused on strengthening processes that guide government projects from initiation to completion, including project scoping, planning, site supervision, material testing and safety compliance.
“All we are doing is building the capacity of procurement entities and vendors to ensure they deliver quality projects to the state. Participants are expected to take the knowledge gained here and spread the culture of quality across MDAs,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Procurement at the Abia State Public Procurement Bureau, Dr. Chiukpai Okwara, noted that the workshop would strengthen procurement processes and ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of government projects.
He stressed that effective procurement systems are critical to development and essential to ensuring that public investments translate into visible and sustainable outcomes.
Dr. Okwara further urged contractors and stakeholders to move away from past practices where projects were poorly monitored or awarded to unqualified contractors, leading to substandard work.
A civil engineer and participant at the workshop, Engr. Oki Isaac, described the training as highly beneficial to professionals in the construction sector.
He said the sessions highlighted the importance of structured planning, inspection and testing procedures for building materials and construction processes, adding that adherence to these standards would significantly improve project outcomes.
According to him, quality in construction must be seen as a shared responsibility among engineers, contractors, project managers and government officials.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to promote professionalism, accountability and strict compliance with established standards in order to ensure that Abia’s infrastructure projects remain durable, sustainable and beneficial to future generations.
