The Rivers State Government has revoked a contract worth N134 billion awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation, retrofitting, and furnishing of the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt.
The decision was reached at a meeting of the State Executive Council held on Thursday and presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Council also directed the immediate refund of N20 billion earlier paid to the contractor as mobilisation.
According to officials, the contract, awarded by the previous emergency administration, did not follow due process.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, described the award of the contract as premature and procedurally flawed.
He said, “The contracts were awarded in a hasty manner without following due process.
”The Council, therefore, approved the revalidation of the bidding process for all four contracts that were earlier advertised in national dailies on February 19, 2025.”
He noted that a fresh call for bids would be issued to ensure transparency and compliance with procurement regulations.
Contractors are expected to submit both technical and commercial proposals.
The affected projects include the cancelled State Secretariat contract, as well as three shoreline protection and reclamation projects across riverine communities in Opobo/Nkoro and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
According to Dr. Ezekiel-Hart, the shoreline protection works will span a total of approximately 9.8 kilometres.
”In Opobo/Nkoro, the project will cover Queenstown, Epellema, Oloma, and Minima communities. In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, two separate 2.5-kilometre stretches will be constructed to serve the communities of Ndoni-Onukwu, Isikwu, Aziazagi, Utuechi, Obiofu, Isala, Ani-Eze, and Odugri.”
He also explained that all previous bidding documents were cancelled by the emergency administration and that companies which had purchased them were refunded at the time, adding that projects would now be re-tendered.
In another resolution, the Executive Council approved the constitution of a committee to propose the establishment of Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories across all three senatorial districts of the state.
The initiative comes in response to a federal directive that all examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) from 2026 onwards will be computer-based.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, said the move was strategic for preparing students across the state for a technology-driven educational future.
“This step will improve the quality of education and ensure our students are not left behind.
“The establishment of CBT centres and ICT labs will strengthen digital learning and prepare our youths for emerging opportunities, ” she said.
The committee would be chaired by the Deputy Governor and would include the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Works, and Information, as well as the Commissioner for Energy.
The state Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Chisom Gbali, disclosed that his ministry has been mandated to develop a new framework for youth employment and economic empowerment across the state.
He said, “We want to assure Rivers youths that there will be a rising tide of employment and steady waves of economic empowerment.
”We know our Governor, when he makes a promise, he ensures it is fulfilled.”
He noted that the government wasn’t taking deliberate steps to open more economic opportunities for the growing youth population through skill acquisition, entrepreneurship support, and public-private partnerships.
Meanwhile, the Council also deliberated on recent incidents of flooding in some parts of the state.
As part of its response, it directed relevant agencies to immediately carry out remedial work in affected areas.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, said the state government was alarmed by the impact of flash floods and is moving swiftly to curb further damage.
He advised residents to stop dumping waste in drainage channels and to avoid erecting structures on natural waterways, saying such actions contribute to urban flooding.
“Residents must stop dumping refuse into drains and building on waterways.
“These practices worsen flooding and expose entire communities to unnecessary hardship, ” he said.
He reiterated the governor’s commitment to accelerated development, despite what he described as the setbacks of the past.
“Despite time lost, the Governor is determined to accelerate the pace of development.
”His renewed focus will soon place Rivers State back on a path of sustainable growth and progress,” Dr. Sirawoo added.
The Executive Council reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency, infrastructure renewal, educational reform, and youth empowerment.
The resolutions were made public in an official statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, at Government House, in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
