- Work Ministry urges public to verify viral images, videos before drawing conclusions
-Says some materials lack technical and contextual details
The Ebonyi State Ministry of Works has cautioned members of the public against relying on unverified photographs and videos circulating on social media to assess road projects being executed by the state government.
The ministry, in a statement issued by its Head of Public Relations, Onwe Emmanuel Onwe, said some images and videos purportedly showing government road projects were being circulated without adequate context, potentially creating misleading impressions about the quality and progress of the projects.
It urged residents to verify the authenticity, location, stage of execution and circumstances surrounding such materials before drawing conclusions or sharing them online.
The ministry said some of the photographs being circulated were allegedly taken shortly after contractors or engineering teams had mobilised to project sites, or before relevant technical activities had commenced.
According to the statement, the circulation of such materials without the accompanying technical information could misrepresent the actual state of the projects and undermine public confidence in the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
“The Ebonyi State Ministry of Works has been patient enough, trying to avoid joining issues with some social media users who, in their attempts to distort information and discredit the people-oriented Governor of Ebonyi State, have made several uncomplimentary posts, sometimes with unverifiable pictorials, just to mislead the public,” Onwe said.
The ministry, however, said it remained open to constructive criticism, stressing that legitimate scrutiny of government projects was necessary for accountability.
It described as unacceptable, however, the alleged use of unverified images and narratives to draw conclusions about projects without recourse to the technical personnel supervising them.
The statement also defended the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, describing him as committed to ensuring quality service delivery through supervision and professional guidance on projects under the ministry.
The ministry said the state government placed a premium on the durability, structural integrity and quality of public infrastructure.
“The Governor places premium on quality, durability, structural integrity and adherence to acceptable standards in the execution of public infrastructure,” it stated.
It added that Governor Nwifuru had consistently maintained that public projects should be executed by competent professionals and in accordance with acceptable standards to guarantee value for money and lasting benefits to the people.
The ministry further urged social media users to exercise restraint in publishing or sharing materials capable of misleading the public, advising them to seek clarification from relevant government authorities and professionals where necessary.
It also reminded users of their obligations under applicable cyber-related laws, while appealing to the public not to be swayed by photographs or narratives lacking authentic and contextual evidence.
“Only the information from the appropriate professionals and relevant government authorities should be relied on for accuracy and accountability,” the ministry said.
