By Abiola Olawale
The Rivers State Government has annulled a N134 billion contract for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex, originally awarded by former Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (rtd.).
The administration, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, also ordered the immediate refund of all payments made to the contractor.
The decision was announced by the Rivers State Executive Council during a high-level meeting in Port Harcourt.
Awarded earlier this year under Ibas’s brief tenure as Sole Administrator, the contract was criticized for its exorbitant cost and lack of competitive bidding processes by the Rivers State government.
The Council, which reached this decision today at its meeting, also directed the company to refund the N20 billion mobilisation fee it has already received.
The Council also approved a 6-man committee headed by the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to evaluate and make recommendations for the construction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state to facilitate the conduct of external examinations.
The Council further directed the flood committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, to take immediate action to address flooding in the state and cautioned residents against blocking drainage channels.
