The House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into the $460 million Chinese loan obtained during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Ogah’s motion, titled “Need to investigate the rising insecurity and loss of lives in Abuja despite the $460m CCTV project secured with a Chinese loan,” questioned why insecurity persists in the FCT despite the project’s stated purpose of enhancing surveillance and curbing criminal activities.
According to the lawmaker, the Jonathan administration had in 2010 approved the CCTV initiative to bolster security in the nation’s capital. The project was to be executed by ZTE Communications, a Chinese firm, after an MoU was signed in Beijing under the supervision of then-Finance Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga. The financing came from a $460 million loan provided by China-EXIM Bank, with a 10-year grace period and a repayment plan spread over another decade.
However, more than a decade later, there is little to show for the massive investment. The 9th House of Representatives had previously queried the Ministry of Finance in 2019 over the uncompleted project. Then-Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, confirmed that Nigeria was servicing the loan but failed to provide details on project execution.
In 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Federal Government to release full details of the loan’s expenditure following a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Ogah lamented that, despite continuous loan repayments, the CCTV system remains non-functional, even as insecurity in Abuja worsens. “The country continues to pay for a project that yields no security benefits. It’s a lose-lose situation for Nigeria,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Billy Osawaru (Edo State) emphasized the need for stronger legislative oversight. “The House must rise to its duty. We can’t continue to tolerate wasteful spending and lack of accountability,” he urged.
Similarly, Hon. Ahmad Jaha (Borno State) called for a comprehensive probe into the project. “A lot of money went into this, yet there’s nothing to show. Nigerians deserve answers,” he said.
Following extensive debate, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the status of the CCTV project and report its findings for further legislative action.
