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) over what he called substandard work and the near-collapse of the Port Harcourt-Aba Road.
Speaking during an inspection of federal road projects in Rivers State, Umahi decried the deteriorating state of the 43-kilometre dual carriageway, accusing the contractor of disregarding engineering standards despite repeated warnings.
“We are at the Port Harcourt-bound Aba route being constructed by CCECC, which is on the verge of total collapse,” he said.
“This job was inherited, and since we came on board, we’ve been putting in funds to complete one carriageway.”
The minister said the ministry and CCECC agreed on concrete on the shoulders and asphalt on the main carriageway to improve durability.
He alleged the company ignored the specifications, laying binder courses over long stretches without completing the shoulders or applying the final wear coat, a shortcut he said had already failed on sections completed two years ago.
“If CCECC fails to mill out the defective binder and replace it, they will face sanctions, including the termination of all their contracts nationwide,” Umahi warned.
Citing more than 20 official warnings, Umahi announced the ministry will de-scope the Port Harcourt-bound lane from CCECC’s contract and reassign it to competent indigenous contractors capable of delivering quality work.
“I will direct the Ministry to scout for very competent indigenous contractors to handle the Port Harcourt-bound lane,” he said.
Naijaonpoint reports that Umahi also said the ministry will publish all correspondence with CCECC to demonstrate transparency and safeguard public funds, stressing that the government will not tolerate sabotage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure renewal agenda.
He directed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to serve the formal termination notice, enclosing all documented warnings, on CCECC’s head office before Wednesday.
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