The House of Representatives has announced plans to investigate the controversial $460 million Chinese loan secured by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Abuja.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah, who represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Motion Seeks Accountability on Failed Security Project

Ogah’s motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Rising Insecurity and Loss of Lives in Abuja Despite the $460 Million CCTV Project,” raised concerns about the persistent insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He noted that the CCTV initiative, which was meant to enhance surveillance and reduce crime, has not produced any tangible results despite the loan obtained in 2010.

The project, initially awarded to China’s ZTE Communications, was expected to install cameras across key areas of the capital to aid law enforcement.

Background: Loan Serviced Without Results

The $460 million loan was obtained from the China-EXIM Bank as part of a $600 million financing portfolio. It came with a soft credit repayment plan a 10-year grace period followed by another 10 years for repayment with interest.

However, more than a decade later, the CCTV project remains incomplete. Despite continuous servicing of the loan, there is little evidence that the system was ever installed or operational.

In 2019, the 9th House of Representatives questioned the Ministry of Finance over the unexecuted project. The then-Minister of Finance confirmed that repayments were ongoing but offered no clear update on the project’s status.

In 2023, a Federal High Court ordered the Federal Government to release detailed information on how the funds were utilized, following a suit filed by a civil society group demanding transparency.

Lawmakers Decry Rising Insecurity

Hon. Ogah expressed disappointment that despite the enormous financial commitment, Abuja continues to experience frequent cases of robbery, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.

He described the situation as “a lose-lose scenario,” where Nigeria bears the debt burden without benefiting from the supposed security infrastructure.

He said, “We borrowed millions to install CCTV cameras in Abuja, yet insecurity continues to rise daily. This shows a clear case of negligence and mismanagement.”

Other lawmakers echoed similar sentiments. Hon. Billy Osawaru from Edo State called for stronger legislative oversight, emphasizing that the House must “ask tough questions and discourage bad governance.”

Similarly, Hon. Ahmad Jaha from Borno State questioned the feasibility of the project, wondering why no visible installations exist despite the massive expenditure.

Ad Hoc Committee to Lead Investigation

After a heated debate, the House resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The committee will examine how the funds were disbursed, the level of work done, and whether any accountability measures were followed during project execution.

The report from this investigation is expected to guide future legislative actions and ensure public funds are better managed in subsequent security projects.

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