Port Harcourt, Rivers – In a bold move to safeguard public funds and enforce quality standards in infrastructure projects, Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed the immediate issuance of a 14-day termination notice to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for its handling of the 43-kilometer Port Harcourt-Aba dual carriageway project.

The decision, announced during an on-site inspection in Rivers State on Sunday, October 19, stems from what Umahi described as "substandard work" that has left sections of the road on the verge of total collapse, despite repeated warnings and substantial government funding.

Umahi, speaking to journalists amid the visibly deteriorated road surface, lambasted CCECC for ignoring engineering specifications and failing to maintain completed sections.

"We are at the Port Harcourt-bound Aba route being constructed by CCECC, which is on the verge of total collapse," he stated, highlighting that parts of the road finished about two years ago have already "almost totally failed."

The minister revealed that the ministry had issued over 20 official warnings to the contractor, urging them to avoid laying binder courses without completing shoulders or applying the final wearing coat—a critical step for durability. Despite agreements to use concrete for shoulders and asphalt for the 7.3-meter main carriageway, CCECC allegedly disregarded these directives, leading to rapid deterioration.

The Port Harcourt-Aba road, part of the larger Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, is an inherited project from the previous administration.

Since taking office, the current government under President Bola Tinubu has injected significant funds to advance at least one carriageway, but Umahi emphasized that taxpayer money cannot be squandered on shoddy execution.

"This job is 43 kilometers from Port Harcourt to Aba, and we've been putting in funds to finish one carriageway," he said, adding that the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State had reported the Aba-bound portion as critically unstable just days before his visit.

In response, Umahi has ordered the de-scoping of the Port Harcourt-bound lane from CCECC's contract, with immediate plans to re-award it to "very competent indigenous contractors" who can commence work without delay.

"Number one, the Port Harcourt-bound is discontinued; CCECC will no longer do it," he declared, instructing the ministry to scout for local firms while securing funding to expedite progress.

To ensure accountability, Umahi vowed to publish all correspondence and warnings sent to CCECC, allowing the public to judge the ministry's efforts.

"Our conscience is evident, and we will publish all the warnings we gave to CCECC on this project so that the whole country will see them," he affirmed.

However, the latest action signals a firmer stance under the Tinubu administration's infrastructure renewal agenda, prioritizing transparency and local capacity-building.

CCECC, a subsidiary of the China Railway Construction Corporation, has been involved in numerous Nigerian projects, including rail and road developments.

As of press time, the company had not issued an official response to the termination notice. Industry observers note that while foreign contractors like CCECC bring technical expertise, recurring quality issues have fueled calls for greater reliance on indigenous firms.