In July 2025, residents in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, questioned the quality of the Ukwu Orji–Awka–Nibo–Isiagu road after a video circulated showing cracks on a section still under construction. Contractor J. Quarison International Ltd disputed allegations of poor workmanship and said the affected areas were being repaired. Reports from that period do not establish the project’s current completion status.
Key Highlights
- A July 2025 video showing cracks on an unfinished Nibo road section prompted residents to call for scrutiny.
- J. Quarison International Ltd said work was ongoing and described the criticism as politically motivated.
- The contractor and its field engineer attributed damage to water, drainage issues and sections from an earlier contract.
- The engineer said the affected sections represented less than four per cent of the project; that estimate came from the project team.
- The contractor’s July 2025 completion target was a stated expectation at the time, not confirmation of present status.
Residents Question Cracks on Nibo Road
The controversy followed a video shared on social media showing visible cracks and damage on parts of the road while work was underway. Residents questioned how the surface could crack before construction had been completed, and some called on the Anambra State Government to investigate.
The concerns were about public spending and whether the completed road would meet required standards. The claims were not accompanied in the reporting by an independent engineering assessment of the affected sections.
Road Project Had Earlier Delays
The affected route forms part of the Ukwu Orji–Awka–Nibo–Isiagu road project, which includes spurs connecting nearby communities. Reports on the contract described an earlier phase as having stalled after payment issues, before work resumed under J. Quarison International Ltd.
Coverage at the time put the project’s revised estimated cost at about ₦1.85 billion. The contract amount and scope were reported in New Telegraph’s account of the project.
Contractor Disputes Poor-Workmanship Allegations
Okey Nwankwo of J. Quarison International Ltd rejected claims that the cracks showed poor construction. He described the video as politically motivated and said the sections shown were still at an early stage of work and had not been completed or commissioned.
Nwankwo said water could damage areas that had been drilled or opened during construction if they were not immediately protected with asphalt. He also said some completed sections were not shown in the video and attributed some criticism to local political grievances.
Engineer Cites Drainage and Older Sections
Field engineer Valentine Maduka told reporters that some of the disputed locations were connected to portions of an earlier, abandoned contract. He said blocked drains had caused water to flow over parts of the road, contributing to surface damage.
Maduka said the project team used sharp sand, installed restraining beams and reinforced affected sections. He estimated that the areas attracting criticism accounted for less than four per cent of the project. That estimate was the engineer’s assessment; no independent measurement was cited in the reports.
He said asphalt and stone-base work had progressed on substantial sections, while weather conditions could affect the pace of the remaining work.
Contractor Promised Repairs
In a statement reported at the time, J. Quarison International Ltd said asphalt work was ongoing and it would inspect and repair failed sections of older drains believed to date to around 2017. The company also said the asphalt thickness met contract specifications and advised the public to stay clear of active construction areas.
The company expected to complete the project before the end of July 2025. That was its forecast at the time. The latest reports located for this article were published in July 2025, and they do not confirm whether the project was subsequently completed.
Nibo Community Leader Says Work Is Ongoing
Prof. Tony Nwokoye, president-general of the Nibo Town Union, said there was no major problem with the project and that construction was continuing. His response reflected the community leadership’s view that the road should be assessed after completion rather than from defects seen during active work.
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Road Quality and Public Accountability
Cracks observed during construction can have different causes, and a video alone cannot determine whether a road meets its specifications. Drainage, sub-base conditions, materials and workmanship are among the issues an independent technical inspection could assess.
The Nibo dispute therefore raises questions about how road projects are supervised, how construction-stage defects are documented and whether promised repairs are completed before handover. Residents’ concerns and the contractor’s response remain claims made during the 2025 construction period; the road’s present condition requires more recent verification.
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