The 52-Youth Coalition has condemned what it described as substandard construction of drainage infrastructure along the Alapa–Hokko and Madi–Pekee roads in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Coalition, in a statement issued on Saturday, expressed concern that poor engineering practices in the construction of drainage systems could worsen the impact of seasonal flooding and lead to avoidable damage to roads, businesses and property.
According to the group, information available to it indicated that the contractor handling the project, Nael and Bin Harmal Hydroexport Nigeria Limited, deviated from standard engineering practices by using wire mesh in place of reinforcement steel bars for the drainage walls.
The Coalition said it was particularly concerned about the structural integrity of the drainage works and called on the relevant authorities to make public the technical specifications contained in the approved contract bill for the project.
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The group also linked its concerns to recent infrastructure failures in parts of the state, including the Adeta–Pakata Road and Oja-Iya Culvert, which it said raised questions about the quality and durability of some public infrastructure projects in Kwara.
“What we are seeing is not just a bad practice, but a total betrayal of public trust,” the Coalition’s spokesperson said.
“Contractors are pocketing billions in public funds while delivering shallow, poorly planned and unreinforced drainage systems. These shortcuts do not just reduce the lifespan of our road networks; they directly endanger lives, destroy businesses and force the government to spend scarce resources repeatedly on repairs.
“This is a systemic threat to human life and the public treasury, and all those involved must be held responsible.”
The Coalition urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to investigate the allegations and determine whether contractors or public officials breached applicable procurement, engineering or contractual requirements.
It also called on the state government to sanction any contractor found to have compromised approved specifications and to consider blacklisting firms found culpable of serious breaches.
The Coalition further demanded stricter enforcement of appropriate engineering standards in the construction of public culverts, drainage channels and other stormwater infrastructure across the state.
It said transparency over project specifications, contract costs, supervision and certification would help reassure residents that public infrastructure projects were being executed in accordance with approved standards.
Signed:
Abdulhameed Abdur-Rasheed Shola,
Director of Technical and Evaluation,
52-Youth Coalition
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