Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara
Rivers State Executive Council has revoked the controversial ₦134 billion contract previously awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation and furnishing of the state’s secretariat complex.
The decision was reached at the council’s meeting held on Thursday in Port Harcourt and presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, briefed journalists after the meeting, stating that the council also ordered CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee already paid to it under the contract.
He revealed that the contract, awarded under the immediate past administration during a period of emergency governance, bypassed proper procurement procedures.
“It was discovered that the contract was hastily awarded without due process. The Council, therefore, approved the revalidation of the bidding process for all four contracts that were previously advertised in national dailies on February 19, 2025,” Ezekiel-Hart explained.
As part of the decision, the government will initiate a fresh bidding process, inviting qualified contractors to submit both technical and commercial proposals. The revalidated projects include:
Construction of 4.8km shoreline protection and land reclamation in Queenstown, Epellema, Oloma, and Minima (Opobo/Nkoro LGA)
2.5km shoreline reclamation in Ndoni-Onukwu, Isikwu, and Aziazagi (Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA)
Similar 2.5km shoreline projects in Utuechi, Obiofu, Isala, Ani-Eze, and Odugri (Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA)
The renovation and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex
Expanding Opportunities for Youth
Also addressing the press, Dr. Chisom Gbali, Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, said the council reviewed progress on youth job creation and empowerment.
According to Gbali, the ministry will soon unveil a comprehensive framework to drive employment initiatives, signalling the administration’s intent to expand economic opportunities for young people across the state.
Statewide ICT and CBT Centres in the Works
In the education sector, Dr. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, announced that the council had approved the formation of a high-level committee to propose the establishment of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and ICT labs in each of the state’s three senatorial districts.
This initiative, she said, aligns with the Federal Government’s directive mandating that, from 2026, all examinations by WAEC and NECO will be conducted via CBT platforms.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor, also includes the Secretary to the State Government, relevant commissioners, and permanent secretaries from key ministries.
“The goal is to prepare our youths for a digital future and enhance the overall quality of education in Rivers State,” Uzoma-Nwogu stated.
Government Responds to Flooding, Urges Residents to Act Responsibly
Meanwhile, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, said the council had ordered immediate remedial action to tackle flash flooding affecting parts of the state.
He urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainages and building on waterways, warning that such actions worsen flooding and pose serious risks to public infrastructure.
Sirawoo affirmed the Fubara-led government’s commitment to accelerated development and improved quality of life for all Rivers residents.
NAN
