FG Terminates Port Harcourt–Aba Road Contract with CCECC Over Poor Performance

The Federal Government has terminated the contract awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the reconstruction of the 43-kilometre Port Harcourt–Aba Road, citing poor performance and substandard work.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Sunday while addressing journalists after inspecting the project site. He said the termination followed repeated warnings and the contractor’s persistent failure to address glaring deficiencies, which have led to the collapse of sections of the road despite significant funding.

“This project, inherited by the current administration, covers 43 kilometres from Port Harcourt to Aba,” Umahi said. “We’ve committed funds to ensure at least one carriageway is completed, but CCECC’s approach has been deeply troubling.”

According to Umahi, CCECC’s construction method—laying binder over long stretches without applying the final wearing course—has compromised the integrity of the road. He noted that several formal requests to the company to fix ongoing issues were ignored.

“The Aba-bound lane is on the verge of total collapse. Their method of laying binder over 30 kilometres without applying the wearing course is unacceptable,” he stated.

The Minister further disclosed that the government would now hand the project over to a competent indigenous contractor to ensure timely and quality completion. He also ordered CCECC to mill out the binder already laid, noting that it had been paid for and must be accounted for.

“If they fail to comply, I will not hesitate to shut down all of CCECC’s projects in Nigeria,” he warned.

Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, expressed disappointment that despite handling multiple federal projects, some contractors still deliver substandard work, which undermines government efforts and public trust.