The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate the $460 million Chinese loan secured by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the procurement and installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in strategic locations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aimed at enhancing security.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, during Wednesday’s plenary.
Titled “Need to investigate the rising insecurity and loss of lives in Abuja despite the CCTV project secured with a $460m Chinese loan,” Ogah highlighted the increasing insecurity in the nation’s capital as reason to revisit the stalled project.
In 2010, the Federal Government secured the $460 million loan from China-Exim Bank to install CCTV cameras in the FCT, but the project was never executed.
The 9th National Assembly, through its Committee on Finance in 2019, previously queried the Ministry of Finance on the project’s status. Then Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed confirmed the loan was being serviced but did not provide details on project implementation.
In 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the government to disclose details of the loan’s utilization following a suit by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project.
Speaking on the motion, Ogah said, “The Jonathan administration, in good faith, aimed to curb insecurity in Abuja by installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations to monitor and prevent crime.”
He added that former Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga led a delegation to Beijing in 2010 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ZTE Communications, the Chinese firm awarded the CCTV contract.
Ogah expressed concern over the loan’s financial burden, stating that despite the investment and debt servicing, the impact of the CCTV project remains nonexistent, with crime rates in Abuja continuing to rise.
“This leaves the country in a lose-lose situation, paying heavily for a non-functional CCTV system implemented by a foreign contractor,” he lamented.
Supporting the motion, Edo State lawmaker Billy Osawaru urged the House to exercise robust oversight and hold those responsible accountable.
Similarly, Borno State’s Ahmad Jaha called for a thorough investigation, questioning the feasibility study behind the project and emphasizing the need to uncover the truth given Nigeria’s current debt obligations.
Following the debate, the House mandated the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the status of the CCTV project and report back for further legislative action.
