The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a 14-day termination notice to CCECC Nigeria Limited over poor construction methodology and substandard performance on the Aba-bound section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, Orji Orji, noted that the Minister reprimanded the poor construction methodology deployed by China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited on the rehabilitation works on the Aba-bound of the Rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, contract No. 6252.
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According to the statement, speaking during the inspection visit, the minister decried the state of the 43 km inherited ongoing project handled by CCECC, which he said was on the verge of total collapse.
It stated, “Umahi directed that a 14-day notice of termination be issued to the contractor, having regard to the various warning letters issued to the contractor over their poor construction performance on the said job.
He further directed that the Port Harcourt bound of the project be descoped and reawarded to a competent contractor. He reiterated that putting a binder on for a stretch of the project without putting it on is unacceptable.”
The minister, who was on a routine supervision of ongoing road projects within the South-South and South-East on Sunday, October 19, 2025, expressed displeasure over the recalcitrance of the contractor in complying with the new construction codes and regulations which are aimed at building enduring road infrastructure for the nation.
Umahi said, “If you get to the Port Harcourt end, which they did about two years or thereabouts, the entire road has almost totally failed. We have been writing them to maintain this road. They have refused, and so I have to take responsibility and make a decision. Number one, the Port Harcourt bound is descoped and no longer going to be done by CCECC.I will direct the Ministry of Works to scout out for very qualified indigenous contractors to handle the Port Harcourt bound. They should be the contractor that will start work immediately while we sort out funds for them. Number two, for the site handled by CCECC, they should issue them 14 days’ notice of termination of the job. And I want this directive to go very wide.
“After 14 days, if they fail to mill out the binder and replace it properly, the job will be terminated; they have to initiate it; they have to commit to doing that. Even if they are going to do it during the dry season, they have to maintain the ones that they have done, and they put in writing that they’re going to mill out the binder at their own cost and then be able to put in a new binder, which we have paid for.”
Meanwhile, the minister commended the quality of work on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway, Section II – Umuahia Tower-Aba Rail/Road crossing in Abia State, Contract No. 6209, handled by M/S Arab Contractors O. A. O. Nigeria Limited.
He added, “The 56 km inherited ongoing project was noted to have reached 85 per cent completion. They are some of our best, the first five. Even we want them to maintain from Aba to Umuahia, the completed section. So, they are working very hard. The controller is also doing very well. I wish the controller to visit all the projects of the Federal Government in Abia State. He should be able to visit all the projects in Abia State at least once a week so that if there is a problem of impending danger or an impending problem of cost, you let us know.”