The Rivers State Government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has terminated a N134 billion contract awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.
The decision was made during a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday. The contract, originally awarded by former sole administrator Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (retd), included a N20 billion mobilization fee, which the council ordered CCECC to refund.
Ibas was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as sole administrator during a state of emergency prompted by a political clash between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, leading to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers.
During his six-month tenure, ending September 18, Ibas received N401.9 billion from FAAC and N36.6 billion in local government funds. Critics, alleging mismanagement, have called for a probe into his spending, which Ibas resisted.
