The Ebonyi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, has cautioned members of the public against drawing conclusions on ongoing road projects from isolated photographs and videos circulated on social media without first verifying their authenticity and context.
The Ministry, in a statement issued by its Head of Public Relations, Onwe Emmanuel Onwe, said it had observed with concern the circulation of what it described as misleading images and narratives allegedly aimed at discrediting the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and creating a negative impression about its infrastructure projects.
The Ministry said it welcomes constructive criticism and public scrutiny of government projects but would not remain silent when information is deliberately distorted or presented in a manner capable of misleading the public.
According to the statement, some social media users had circulated photographs of community and mini-road projects as though they were official projects being executed by the Ebonyi State Government.
It explained that some of the photographs and videos were allegedly taken before government engineers and contractors fully mobilised to the affected project sites, thereby creating what it described as an inaccurate impression about the quality and progress of the projects.
The Ministry urged residents to exercise caution before sharing such materials, stressing that road construction is a technical and phased process involving several stages, including mobilisation, earthworks, drainage, soil preparation and other engineering works.
It also defended the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, describing his supervision of road projects across the state as professional and committed to ensuring quality service delivery.
The statement said some individuals had allegedly rushed to project sites to take photographs which were subsequently circulated online without adequate explanation of the stage of work at the time the images were captured.
The Ministry noted that such reports could mislead unsuspecting members of the public and create an unfair perception that the administration was insensitive to the quality and durability of infrastructure being provided across the state.
It stressed that the state government places premium on quality, durability, structural integrity and compliance with acceptable engineering standards in the execution of public infrastructure.
According to the Ministry, Governor Nwifuru has consistently directed that government projects be executed by competent professionals and delivered in accordance with approved standards to ensure lasting value for the people.
While calling for responsible use of social media, the Ministry urged residents, journalists, bloggers and other information disseminators to seek clarification from relevant government authorities and qualified professionals before publishing claims concerning ongoing projects.
It also cautioned against the publication and circulation of unverified claims or manipulated images capable of misleading the public, urging social media users to remain conscious of applicable cyber-security laws.
The Ministry reiterated that criticism and accountability were essential to good governance, but insisted that such engagements must be based on facts rather than distorted images, incomplete information or narratives presented without context.
It therefore appealed to members of the public to properly establish the facts surrounding government projects before reaching conclusions, stressing that responsible information dissemination would help promote transparency, accountability and informed public participation in the state’s development process.
Post a Comment