The Rivers State Executive Council has nullified the ₦134 billion contract earlier awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation, retrofitting, and furnishing of the state secretariat complex.
This decision was announced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, after the council’s meeting held in Port Harcourt on Thursday. He explained that the project was awarded under the former administration and did not follow due process.
Ezekiel-Hart stated that the council, chaired by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, directed the immediate refund of the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee previously paid to the contractor.
He added that the contract was hastily approved, prompting the government to restart the process through a proper and transparent bidding system.
“The council has approved the revalidation of all four projects earlier advertised in national dailies on February 19, 2025. With this revalidation, a new call for bids will be published for qualified contractors to submit both technical and commercial proposals,” he said.
Ezekiel-Hart listed the affected projects to include:
- Construction of 4.8km reinforced concrete shoreline protection and reclamation works at Queenstown, Epellema, Oloma, and Minima communities in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area;
- Construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation at Ndoni-Onukwu, Isikwu, and Aziazagi communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area;
- Construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation in Utuechi, Obiofu, Isala, Ani-Eze, and Odugri communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA; and
- The renovation, retrofitting, and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex.
Dr. Chisom Gbali, Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, also briefed journalists after the meeting, stating that the council reviewed ongoing strategies for job creation. He noted that a framework was being developed to expand economic empowerment initiatives for Rivers youths.
Similarly, Dr. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, disclosed that the council approved the formation of a committee to establish Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres and ICT laboratories across the three senatorial districts of the state.
According to Uzoma-Nwogu, the move aligns with the Federal Government’s directive that by 2026, all West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams will be conducted using CBT.
She said the committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor, includes the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Works, Information and Communications, and the Commissioner for Energy.
“The initiative will help prepare Rivers youths for a digital future and improve the quality of education across the state,” Uzoma-Nwogu said.
On efforts to mitigate flooding, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, revealed that the council approved immediate remedial measures in affected areas.
He urged residents to stop dumping waste into drainage channels or building on waterways and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable development and infrastructure renewal across Rivers State.