The House of Representatives has announced plans to investigate the $460 million Chinese loan obtained for the Abuja Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) project, which was meant to boost security within the Federal Capital Territory.
The decision followed a motion raised by Hon. Amobi Ogah during plenary, who described the project as a major concern given its lack of visible results despite the huge investment.
Ogah recalled that the CCTV initiative was launched under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, aimed at strengthening surveillance and curbing crime in the capital city. He explained that in 2010, the then Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, led a Nigerian delegation to Beijing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ZTE Corporation of China, the contractor responsible for the project.
He noted that the Export-Import Bank of China (China-EXIM) financed the project as part of a $600 million concessional credit facility extended to Nigeria, with $460 million earmarked for the CCTV installation. The loan was structured for repayment over ten years, following a ten-year grace period, but despite ongoing repayment, the project remains largely uncompleted.
The lawmaker expressed worry that Abuja still experiences serious security challenges even after billions of naira have reportedly been spent on the CCTV project. “It is worrisome that despite the loan being serviced for years, there is no evidence of any operational CCTV network across Abuja,” Ogah stated.
Following deliberations, the House directed its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Finance, and Public Accounts to probe the loan arrangement, the project’s current status, and how the funds were utilized. The committees are expected to submit their findings for further legislative action.
Lawmakers emphasized that the investigation would help uncover the reasons behind the project’s failure and ensure accountability for public funds tied to national security initiatives.
