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Abia State Government has tasked contractors handling government and other projects in the state to adhere strictly to internationally accepted quality standards.

The charge was given in Umuahia during a two-day workshop organised by the state government for contractors and other stakeholders involved in project execution in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Director-General of the Abia State Projects Implementation Bureau, Mr Onyinye Nwosu, who addressed the contractors and project supervisors, said the state government must get value for the funds it spends on contracts.

He further charged participants to take the knowledge gained during the workshop back to their respective organisations and serve as advocates for quality in public service, thereby ensuring that high standards are sustained across government institutions.

He urged contractors to prevent costly mistakes that often emerge during the execution stage, noting that quality control during project execution involves strict monitoring of the materials being used.

Nwosu said proper supervision of ongoing work and the maintenance of safe working environments at project sites must not be ignored.

He also emphasised that beyond sound planning and well-prepared engineering designs, the competence and professionalism of personnel present on project sites remain critical to the success of projects.

Nwosu further made it clear that Governor Alex Otti is committed to institutionalising a culture of quality in governance and infrastructure development across the state.

Adhere strictly to project standard – Abia Govt tells contractors, supervisors

Hundreds of angry youths on Wednesday took over the ever-busy Benin-Lagos expressway, protesting against what they described as economic hardship in the country.

DAILY POST gathered that the protesters, mainly youths and students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), used heavy logs, vehicles, and burning tires to block movement on both sides of the highway.

They also set bonfires on the expressway.

The development, it was gathered, resulted in heavy gridlock as motorists and commuters were left stranded, forcing passengers within the Benin metropolis to leave their vehicles and trek to their destinations.

It was learnt that thousands of travelers, including commercial transporters and private car owners, were trapped, with some reportedly turning back to find alternative routes.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “No to petrol hike,” “No to bad roads,” and “APC must go,” among others.

They said they were protesting against several issues, ranging from the hike in petrol prices, epileptic power supply, poor state of roads, and high cost of food items.

They, however, demanded urgent government intervention to address rising food prices, unemployment, and the high cost of living in the country.

In a viral video, a protester said the demonstration was to express their displeasure over the economic hardship in the country.

“There is hardship in this country, and the governments are doing nothing about it.

“We are tired of the promises. Our parents are suffering, students are starving, and the road is the only place they will hear us.

“The protest is to draw the attention of the government to our plight. We are calling on the government at all levels to act quickly before things get out of hand,” he said.

Some observers described the protest as a reflection of the growing frustration among young Nigerians.

They noted that the hardship in the country is biting harder and that many young people feel political leaders are not connecting enough with their daily realities.

Youths, students block Benin-Lagos Expressway to protest economic hardship in Nigeria