Abia Govt Tasks Contractors, Supervisors On Adhering To Standard Practice

A Two-day capacity building workshop on quality assurance, professional site supervision, and improved project delivery across the state has ended in Umuahia with the charge for the participants to become quality champions and advocates.

Speaking on Thursday, during closing of the workshop organised by Abia State Government for contractors and other stakeholders in project execution in Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs), held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Director General of the Abia State Projects Implementation Bureau (ASPIB), Mr. Onyinye Nwosu, tasked project contractors and supervisors to adhere strictly to the standard practice in project execution.

Nwosu said that the programme was focused on creating an ecosystem that aligns with international best practices in project execution in order for the government to get value for the funds it spends on infrastructure development.

“All we’re doing here is to build the capacity of procurement entities as well as vendors to make sure that they deliver quality products or quality projects to the state.

“The charge is, take the learnings, go back, become advocates, like disciples, go out there, spread the news and start being the quality champion.

“We expect these guys, after the end of today, each and every one of them; contractors, participants from Abia, will now be quality champions in different MDAs,” Mr Nwosu stated.

The Director General, also pointed out that the training is designed to strengthen the processes that guide government projects from conception to completion.

He further challenged 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.

According to him, the workshop began with a focus on the project initiation phase, where participants examined the key processes involved in project scoping and planning, to ensure that projects are properly structured from the outset in order to prevent costly mistakes that often emerge during the execution stage.

Nwosu made it clear that quality control during project execution involves strict monitoring of materials used, proper supervision of ongoing work, and the maintenance of safe working environments at project sites.

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 any project.

According to the Director General, the initiative aligns with the vision of the Governor, Dr Alex Otti, who is committed to institutionalising a culture of quality in governance and infrastructure development across the state.

He stated that the bureau is working to re-engineer the operational culture within government institutions to ensure that quality delivery becomes a permanent standard in Abia State, stressing that quality project delivery requires collaboration among all stakeholders involved in project implementation.

“The effort is aimed at building a system where quality is regarded not as a privilege but as a way of life in public service and project execution,” he noted

In his speech, the Director of Procurement at the Abia State Public Procurement Bureau, Dr. Chiukpai Okwara, said that the workshop is aimed at strengthening procurement processes and ensuring that the government obtains value for every project executed.

Dr Okwara explained that procurement activities account for a significant proportion of government projects, adding that development in many cases is closely tied to the effectiveness and transparency of procurement systems.

He emphasised that the objective for organising the workshop is to ensure that government investments in infrastructure and development projects translate into visible and sustainable outcomes, while guaranteeing that taxpayers’ funds are utilised responsibly.

He stressed the need for contractors and stakeholders to move away from past practices where projects were poorly monitored and contracts were sometimes awarded to unqualified contractors, and substandard work was delivered.

In his remark, a civil engineer and participant at the Workshop, Engineer Oki Isaac, described the training as highly beneficial to professionals in the construction and building industry.

He noted that the seminar has highlighted the importance of quality control and structured planning in construction projects, while also exposing certain gaps that occur when quality assurance processes are not clearly defined.

According to him, the discussions on inspection and test plans provided valuable insight into the need for clearly scheduled procedures for testing building materials, verifying construction processes, and obtaining approvals at critical stages of project execution.

Engineer Isaac maintained that when structured monitoring systems and protocols are properly followed, construction projects are more likely to remain on course and meet expected quality standards.