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Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has directed the immediate issuance of a 14-day termination notice to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for allegedly executing substandard work on the Port Harcourt–Aba Road, which he said is on the brink of collapse.
Umahi issued the order during an inspection of federal road projects in Rivers State, expressing deep frustration over the poor state of the 43-kilometre dual carriageway.
He accused CCECC of repeatedly ignoring engineering standards despite several warnings from the ministry.
Standing on a visibly damaged section of the road, the minister described the project, inherited from the previous administration, as an embarrassment to the government.
“We are on the Port Harcourt-bound Aba route being handled by CCECC, which is now close to total failure. This job was inherited, and since we assumed office, we have been releasing funds to complete one carriageway,” Umahi said.
He explained that the ministry had agreed with the company to use concrete for the shoulders and asphalt for the main carriageway to ensure durability.
However, CCECC allegedly disregarded these specifications by laying binder courses across long stretches without completing the shoulders or applying the final wear coat. This shortcut has already caused structural failures in sections completed two years ago.
After issuing over 20 formal warnings, Umahi announced that the ministry would remove the Port Harcourt-bound section from CCECC’s contract and reassign it to competent indigenous contractors capable of meeting required standards.
He warned that the company must correct all defects at its own cost or risk having all its ongoing projects across Nigeria terminated.
“I will instruct the ministry to engage competent indigenous contractors to handle the Port Harcourt-bound lane,” Umahi stated.
“If CCECC fails to mill out and replace the defective binder, it will face sanctions, including the cancellation of its contracts nationwide.”
The minister also pledged to publish all official correspondence between the ministry and CCECC to ensure transparency and protect public funds, insisting that the government would not tolerate any act undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure renewal agenda.
He further ordered the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to serve the formal termination notice, along with documented warnings, to CCECC’s headquarters before Wednesday.
