The Abia State Government has initiated a two-day capacity-building workshop for contractors and government officials aimed at tackling poor project execution and ensuring that public infrastructure projects meet global quality standards.
The workshop, organised by the Abia State Project Implementation Bureau (ASPIB), is focusing on quality assurance and quality control processes designed to improve project delivery and guarantee value for public funds.
Speaking at the opening session on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Director-General of ASPIB and convener of the workshop, Mr Onyinye Nwosu, said the initiative was intended to strengthen collaboration between contractors and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved in project execution.
Mr Nwosu noted that the workshop, themed “Quality Execution: A Shared Ownership in Building High Quality Resilient Infrastructure Through Collaborative Project Management”, is designed to enhance technical competence and ensure that infrastructure projects delivered in the state meet internationally accepted standards.
He said the training reflects Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to excellence in public project delivery and the long-term sustainability of infrastructure across the State.
“Today we are hosting our two-day capacity building workshop where we are bringing in our contractors and also the MDAs in the State Government for a collaborative session.
“We all know that our dear Governor has transformed the State into a massive construction site.
“In order to make sure that we deliver quality infrastructure that can stand the test of time and be sustainable, even when this administration has left, we have to make sure that we execute the right, quality assurance and quality control processes.
“So this is a workshop where we can talk about our processes and also the quality management plan that the state government has put in place to be able to track what goes on, on site, system that guides everybody”, the ASPIB boss said.
He explained that the workshop was structured to help contractors and other stakeholders understand the quality assurance and quality control processes required for public projects.
Mr Nwosu stressed the importance of adopting a long-term perspective in infrastructure development.
“We have to think about 50 to 100 years from now. That means putting in place the right quality assurance and quality control processes. It cannot be done without carrying along our contractors and other stakeholders,” Nwosu added.
Also speaking during the workshop, Engr. Prince Chukwudi, who presented a paper on geotechnical and geological exploration, emphasised the importance of proper soil and site investigation before the commencement of construction projects.
According to him, many infrastructure failures occur because projects begin without adequate geological and geotechnical studies.
He explained that thorough geotechnical exploration helps ensure that project designs align with the realities of construction sites, thereby preventing structural defects and unnecessary cost escalation.
“If a project is supposed 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 any construction begins”, he said.
A participant and Senior Project Controller at the Bureau, Mr Chukwuma Okolo, described the workshop as a major step towards reforming project implementation systems in Nigeria.
He said the initiative could help address the persistent problem of abandoned or poorly executed public projects across the country.
Okolo noted that the creation of ASPIB by Governor Otti was aimed at tackling decades of inefficiencies in public infrastructure development.
“ASPIB was created with good intentions after studying the enormous wastage that has occurred since independence. We are talking about billions of dollars spent on projects that did not deliver value.
“ASPIB is essentially a preventive mechanism. It ensures that projects are done according to prescribed standards so that contractors and government officials alike are protected and public funds are not wasted”, he stated.
