The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has ordered the issuance of a 14-day termination notice to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over what he called substandard work and a near-collapse on the 43km Port Harcourt–Aba dual carriageway.

During an inspection in Rivers State, Umahi said the project, inherited from the previous administration, has deteriorated despite repeated warnings and ongoing funding. “We are at the Port Harcourt-bound Aba route being constructed by CCECC, which is on the verge of total collapse,” he said.

Umahi explained that the ministry agreed with the contractor to build concrete shoulders and an asphalt main carriageway for durability, but alleged CCECC laid long stretches of binder course without finishing the shoulders or applying the final wear coat—shortcuts that have already failed on sections completed two years ago.

After what he described as more than 20 formal cautions, Umahi said the Port Harcourt-bound lane would be removed from CCECC’s scope and reassigned to “very competent indigenous contractors.”

“I will direct the Ministry to scout for very competent indigenous contractors to handle the Port Harcourt-bound lane,” he said, warning that “If CCECC fails to mill out the defective binder and replace it, they will face sanctions, including the termination of all their contracts nationwide.” He added that all correspondence with the firm would be published to demonstrate transparency and safeguard public funds, and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers to deliver the formal termination notice—with the documented warnings—to CCECC’s head office before Wednesday.