Governor Otti Suspends New Contracts with Chinese Firm over Project Delays

Governor Alex Otti has issued a directive halting the allocation of new contracts to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) due to the firm’s unsatisfactory performance in ongoing projects within Abia State.

The governor made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit from Ms. Yan Yuqing, the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, and her delegation, who are currently on an official visit to the state.

Governor Otti expressed deep disappointment over CCECC’s slow pace in completing projects already awarded. He emphasized his refusal to entertain any further excuses regarding delays and questioned the company’s lack of presence in the state.

According to him, “We awarded your company the first two projects in Aba. While one was finished promptly, the other was significantly delayed. Subsequently, you were given two more contracts. However, I have now directed that no further contracts should be assigned to your firm. Even the Government House construction project, which you designed, has not been awarded to you. The reason is simple—you are underperforming, and we cannot continue to tolerate excuses.”

Governor Otti also noted that CCECC had failed to establish an operational base in Abia or deploy senior-level staff to oversee the current projects. This lack of accountability, he said, influenced the state government’s decision to withhold additional contracts.

Despite this, he expressed openness to building a productive partnership with the Chinese government to stimulate economic growth in Abia State. He acknowledged shared values between the people of Abia and the Chinese, particularly in terms of resilience and industriousness, even in the face of widespread poverty in Nigeria.

Responding, Ms. Yan Yuqing explained that their visit was aimed at fostering stronger ties between China and Abia State. She highlighted plans to extend the Chinese government’s initiative—the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty—to residents of the state.

She also expressed China’s willingness to support Abia in key sectors such as vocational training and agriculture by creating avenues for collaboration with partners in China. To mark the visit, her delegation donated food items to assist impoverished and vulnerable groups within the state.