By Isaac Mission 

The Ebonyi State Government has cautioned residents, journalists and social media users against relying on unverified photographs and videos to assess ongoing road construction projects across the state.

The warning was issued by the state Ministry of Works following the circulation of images and reports on social media which the government said presented a misleading picture of the progress and quality of some road projects.

In a statement signed by the ministry’s Head of Public Relations, Onwe Onwe, the government said it welcomed constructive criticism and public scrutiny but stressed that such assessments must be based on accurate and verified information.

The ministry explained that some of the images circulating online were captured before contractors and government engineers had fully commenced work at the affected locations. It also noted that some photographs had been wrongly attributed to state government projects, when they were actually from private, community or minor road works.

According to the ministry, road construction is a gradual process involving several technical stages, including mobilisation, earthworks, drainage installation and soil stabilisation, before the final laying of asphalt.

It therefore warned that using photographs taken during the early stages of construction to judge the final quality of a road could create a false impression of the government’s infrastructure programme.

The ministry also defended the quality-control measures being implemented by the state’s works team, particularly under the supervision of the Commissioner for Works, Stanley Mbam, whose oversight of projects across the state was described as thorough and professional.

It said Governor Francis Nwifuru had directed that public infrastructure projects be executed by qualified professionals and in line with approved engineering standards.

The government added that durability, structural strength and compliance with technical specifications remain central to the execution of road projects across the state.

The ministry consequently appealed to journalists, bloggers, content creators and other social media users to verify information about government projects with the relevant authorities before publishing or sharing such content.

It also urged members of the public to be mindful of existing laws governing the dissemination of false, manipulated or unverified digital information.

The government maintained that responsible journalism, accurate reporting and access to verified information are essential to promoting transparency, accountability and meaningful public participation in the development of Ebonyi State.