By our reporter
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has cancelled the controversial ₦134 billion contract awarded for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt. The project, which was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) during the tenure of the former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has now been terminated following a review by the State Executive Council.
Governor Fubara also directed CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilization fee that had been paid to the company before the commencement of work. The decision, according to the government, was made in the interest of accountability and to protect the financial integrity of the state.
The contract was originally approved under emergency rule earlier in the year, during a period of intense political crisis in the state. That period saw the temporary suspension of democratic governance and the appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator by federal authorities. Several high-value contracts were hurriedly awarded during that time, raising questions over due process and financial prudence.
Speaking after the Executive Council meeting held at Government House in Port Harcourt, government officials explained that the scale and cost of the project were not justifiable under current economic conditions. They emphasized that the Fubara administration is prioritizing more practical and cost-effective projects that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a move to redirect the state’s focus toward education and technology, the government has also constituted a six-member committee to identify suitable locations for new Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centers. The initiative, chaired by Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu, aims to enhance access to digital learning and examination facilities across all three senatorial districts of the state.
The cancellation of the secretariat contract is one of several reversals by the Fubara administration as it continues to scrutinize projects and financial decisions made during the emergency rule. While some political observers view the move as a necessary correction, others have called for a broader investigation into all contracts issued under Ibas, citing the need for transparency and justice.
Earlier this year, a Federal High Court dismissed a case seeking to compel a full refund of funds spent during Ibas’s tenure. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, as matters involving a presidential declaration of emergency fall under the exclusive authority of the Supreme Court.
Governor Fubara’s latest action signals a firm stance on financial discipline and a desire to distance the current administration from the controversies of the recent past. As more decisions are reviewed, further contract cancellations or legal actions may follow in the coming weeks.
