In a moment of unscripted governance that has set social media ablaze, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has publicly dressed down a contractor for a bizarre prioritization of death over life. During a site inspection, the Governor discovered the firm had built the mortuary first, leaving the main hospital building as an afterthought.

"I said build a hospital, and you start with a mortuary?" The Governor’s incredulous query, captured in a video now trending across Nigeria, encapsulates the frustration of a nation tired of "white elephant" projects and contractor incompetence. The scene at the General Hospital site in Ikot Ekpene Udo was equal parts comedy and tragedy, highlighting the absurdity often found in public procurement.

The Inspection Ambush

Governor Eno, known for his hands-on "unscheduled visit" style, rejected the contractor’s attempts to explain the sequence. When the builder tried to show plans on a mobile phone, the Governor waved it away, demanding physical blueprints and logic. "It doesn’t work with me, there’s no plan for me to view," he retorted.

The contractor admitted that work had commenced with the "gatehouse, mortuary, and chapel." The symbolism was not lost on the Governor or the public: in a facility meant to save lives, the builders had prioritized the exit strategy.

• Project Mismanagement: Experts argue this sequence reveals a lack of technical oversight. "Starting with non-core facilities like a chapel and mortuary is a classic sign of a contractor looking for easy milestones to claim payments without doing the heavy lifting of the main complex," noted Udeme Gordian, a project management analyst.
• The Viral Effect: The video has spawned parodies and memes, but underneath the humor is a serious demand for accountability. It has forced a conversation about value for money in a state that receives significant oil derivations but often struggles with project completion.

Governance by Walkabout

This incident reinforces Governor Eno’s "Arise Agenda," which prioritizes rural development and healthcare. By physically inspecting sites—often catching contractors off-guard—he is attempting to dismantle the culture of impunity where contractors collect mobilization fees and deliver sub-par structures.

The Governor’s photographer, Idara Adiakpan, who filmed the exchange, later had to fend off "impersonators" making parody videos, proving how deeply the moment resonated with the zeitgeist. For the contractor, the message was brutal but clear: in Akwa Ibom, if you build the morgue before the ward, your contract might be the next thing to die.