The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has ordered the immediate issuance of a 14-day termination notice to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for allegedly executing substandard work that has led to the near-collapse of the Port Harcourt–Aba Road.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of federal road projects in Rivers State, expressing deep frustration over the deteriorating state of the 43-kilometre dual carriageway.
He accused CCECC of ignoring engineering specifications despite repeated warnings from the ministry, describing the road’s condition as “a national embarrassment.”
“We are at the Port Harcourt-bound Aba route being constructed by CCECC, which is on the verge of total collapse,” Umahi said. “This project was inherited, and since we came on board, we’ve been injecting funds to complete one carriageway.”
The minister explained that the ministry had earlier agreed with CCECC to use concrete on the shoulders and asphalt on the main carriageway for improved durability. However, the company allegedly violated this agreement by laying binder courses over long stretches without finishing the shoulders or applying the final wear coat, a shortcut that has already resulted in failures on sections completed two years ago.
After issuing over 20 official warnings, Umahi announced that the ministry would de-scope the Port Harcourt-bound section from CCECC’s contract and hand it over to competent indigenous contractors.
He warned that CCECC must either correct the defects at its own cost or risk having all its ongoing projects across Nigeria suspended.
“I will direct the ministry to engage qualified indigenous contractors for the Port Harcourt-bound lane,” Umahi stated. “If CCECC fails to mill out and replace the defective binder, we will terminate all their contracts nationwide.”
Umahi also revealed plans to publish all correspondences with CCECC to ensure transparency and safeguard public funds, adding that the government will not condone any act that undermines President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure renewal drive.
He directed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to issue the formal termination notice, along with documented warnings, to CCECC’s head office before Wednesday.
