Nigerian civic watchdog group MonITNG has raised alarm over the alleged use of substandard materials in a multi-million-naira drainage project in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The group has urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to take swift action against the contractor involved.
The project, which cuts across major parts of Gwagwalada town—including Park Road, Aguma Palace, One Way, and the Abattoir area—was awarded by the Federal Government to address flooding and improve infrastructure.
However, parts of the drainage system reportedly collapsed after the first rainfall, raising alarms about the quality of construction and the integrity of the materials used.
“We discovered it was constructed with substandard materials, and sadly, parts collapsed after the very first rain due to the poor job done by the contractor,” MonITNG said in a statement released it on Thursday.
The group described the situation as part of a “troubling pattern” in which contractors handling public projects compromise on quality to cut costs and maximise profits.
“This not only undermines public trust but also puts lives and infrastructure at risk,” the statement added.
Residents of Gwagwalada, many of whom rely on proper drainage to avoid seasonal flooding, are now forced to deal with the consequences of what they call “a failed project.”
Photos circulating online show collapsed slabs and waterlogged roads in the affected areas.
MonITNG further criticised the broader implications of poor infrastructure delivery on community morale and governance.
“Substandard materials significantly shorten the lifespan of public projects. Instead of lasting for years, they fail within months, wasting taxpayers’ money and exposing communities to health and environmental hazards,” the group said.
“Poor quality work discourages civic participation. When residents see projects fail shortly after delivery, they become apathetic, distrustful, and disengaged from governance processes meant to benefit them.”
The group has issued a strong call for accountability and reform, urging FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to act swiftly.
“We are calling on @GovWike to urgently intervene by compelling the contractor to return and properly complete the work. Gwagwalada residents deserve better, durable infrastructure—not half-baked projects that collapse at the first rainfall,” MonITNG insisted.
The group stressed that community development must never be compromised and that every naira spent on infrastructure should count.
“We owe it to the people to build with quality and integrity,” the statement concluded, using the hashtag #FixGwagwaladaDrainage to galvanize public support,” MonITNG added.
