Port Harcourt—In a dramatic move signaling a major policy shift, the Rivers State Government has cancelled a sprawling N134 billion contract for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.
The decision was ratified during the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Thursday, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The contract, which had been awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), was flagged for cancellation, with the government immediately demanding a full refund of the N20 billion mobilization fee already paid to the firm.
The cancelled contract drew scrutiny for its origins, having been awarded during the period of emergency rule under the former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (retd).
The SEC’s decisive action to terminate the massive infrastructure deal and reclaim the advance payment underscores the administration’s stated commitment to reviewing high-value commitments made under previous administrative structures and ensuring fiscal prudence. The move is expected to free up significant capital as the government re-evaluates its priorities for the state capital’s infrastructure.
In a separate, forward-looking decision during the same meeting, the State Executive Council approved measures aimed at bolstering educational infrastructure across Rivers State.
The Council gave its nod to the immediate establishment of a six-member committee, tasked with assessing and recommending prime locations for the construction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
The committee will be chaired by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and its mandate is to ensure the new centres are strategically sited to provide adequate support for students taking external examinations, signaling a dedicated investment in modernizing the state’s testing and examination processes.
The dual decisions of the SEC reflect a dual focus: asserting financial control over inherited obligations while proactively developing necessary educational infrastructure for the future.
