Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have launched a fresh investigation into the controversial $460 million Abuja CCTV project, initiated under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The project, designed to enhance security across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has remained incomplete more than a decade after the funds were secured.
The decision to reopen the probe followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State. Ogah described the project as a “failed national security initiative”, noting that the rising insecurity in Abuja makes it necessary to revisit the matter.
According to him, the Jonathan-led government in 2010 approved the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic parts of the capital city to curb crime and strengthen surveillance.
“To implement this, the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, led a Federal Government delegation to Beijing, China, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ZTE Communications, the Chinese firm awarded the contract,” Ogah explained.
He noted that the project was funded through a $460 million loan from the China-EXIM Bank, drawn from a $600 million credit facility that included a ten-year grace period before repayment.
Despite the huge expenditure, Ogah lamented that there is no visible trace or impact of the CCTV system across the FCT.
“The House is concerned that Nigeria continues to service a $460 million loan for a non-functional CCTV project undertaken by a Chinese firm, leaving the country in a lose-lose situation,” he said.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Billy Osawaru from Edo State urged lawmakers to strengthen their oversight functions, saying:
“The House must carry out proper oversight for the good of Nigerians. We must discourage bad governance and wasteful spending.”
Also speaking, Hon. Ahmad Jaha, representing Gwoza/Damboa/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, called for a comprehensive investigation to determine what went wrong.
“A lot of money was spent to procure CCTV cameras, yet none can be found,” Jaha said.
This marks another attempt by the National Assembly to probe the failed CCTV project. In 2019, the 9th House of Representatives questioned the Ministry of Finance over the same issue but received no satisfactory answers.
Similarly, in May 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Federal Government to disclose full details of how the $460 million was spent, following a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Despite multiple investigations and ongoing loan repayments, the Abuja CCTV project remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial and unresolved infrastructure scandals.
