Motorists Cry Foul as Construction Firm Accused of Cutting Corners in Anambra Road Dualization

 

Concerns have mounted over the ongoing dualization of the Nwagu Agulu–Nnobi–Nnewi Road as motorists and community stakeholders accuse the contractors of deploying substandard materials in key structural works, particularly at the critical Nnobi Junction. This junction, known for its high vehicular traffic including frequent passage of heavy-duty trucks, is being reconstructed by Lebtech Construction Company, under the supervision of Anambra State Government.

At the heart of the uproar is the alleged use of weak reinforcement rods for the culverts that serve as crucial drainage links along the dual carriageway. Observers at the construction site expressed alarm at what they described as "inappropriate and dangerous shortcuts" in the rebuilding of culverts that were earlier dismantled as part of the road expansion effort.

Chief Chidebelu Ikebuka, a vocal motorist and professional civil engineer who spoke to journalists at the Nnobi Junction over the weekend, warned that the quality of materials being used could spell disaster. According to him, steel rods measuring just 3 millimeters in thickness are being embedded into the foundation of the culverts, despite industry standards demanding rods of 16 millimeters or more for structures on major highways.

Such a disparity, he said, is unacceptable—particularly for a location like Nnobi Junction, which serves as a key artery connecting Nnewi, Nkpor, and Awka-Etiti, and is subjected to constant pressure from commercial and articulated vehicles.

"The road deserves far better," Ikebuka emphasized. "The culverts here are not just for water management, they are integral to the structural health of the road itself. Substandard materials may reduce upfront costs, but they will guarantee long-term failure—and the public will pay that price."

Eyewitness accounts and media inquiries have confirmed that the rods in use do not appear to meet the specifications required for such heavy-duty infrastructure. Videos and photographs taken at the site, though unverified, depict thin rebars loosely tied and poorly aligned—a stark contrast to what is expected in government-funded civil works.

Frustration among commuters has been growing steadily, with many questioning the oversight mechanism in place for the project. While the project is being undertaken under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo—renowned for his reform-oriented governance—critics argue that lax supervision could undermine the integrity of this otherwise ambitious roadwork.

Traders and residents of Nnobi have also expressed skepticism about the long-term durability of the construction, pointing out that poor drainage infrastructure has historically been the Achilles heel of road projects in the area. Several community leaders have reportedly lodged informal complaints to the state’s Ministry of Works, calling for an urgent technical audit of the ongoing reconstruction.

Chief Ikebuka has urged the Commissioner for Works, Engineer Ifeanyi Okoma, to personally visit the construction site alongside Governor Soludo and Rony Melec, Managing Director of Lebtech Construction Company. He believes their joint inspection would not only restore public trust but also deter the use of subpar materials in future state-sponsored projects.

“This is not just about culverts or rods,” he added. “It is about integrity—of infrastructure, of process, and of leadership. If this road fails within a few years because of shortcuts taken today, it won’t just be a technical failure; it will be a betrayal of public trust.”

The Anambra State Government has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the allegations. Meanwhile, several civil society groups and engineers' associations in the Southeast are reportedly monitoring the situation and may conduct an independent assessment of the culverts at Nnobi Junction.

While Lebtech Construction Company maintains a reputation for delivering several government projects in the region, this incident, if proven true, could cast a long shadow over its ongoing and future contracts.

For now, all eyes remain fixed on the junction, with hopes that the concerns raised will be addressed before the road opens to full traffic—and before taxpayers' money is buried beneath crumbling concrete and rusting steel.