The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate the $460 million Chinese loan obtained by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Titled “Need to investigate the rising insecurity and loss of several lives in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, despite the CCTV project secured with a Chinese loan of $460m,” the motion questioned why the project, intended to enhance security in the nation’s capital, has remained unexecuted despite ongoing loan repayments.
Ogah recalled that in 2010, the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing with Chinese firm ZTE Communications for the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic locations across Abuja. The contract was funded through a $460 million loan obtained from China-EXIM Bank, repayable in 10 years after a decade-long grace period.
He expressed concern that despite the huge investment and continued servicing of the loan, there has been no visible impact on security, with crime rates in Abuja continuing to rise.
“The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, acting in good conscience, initiated the project to curb insecurity. But despite the loan, the CCTV cameras were never installed, leaving Nigeria in a lose-lose situation servicing a loan for a project that doesn’t exist,” Ogah stated.
Supporting the motion, Billy Osawaru (Edo State) urged lawmakers to carry out robust oversight and hold those responsible accountable, while Ahmad Jaha (Borno State) called for a full-scale probe into how the funds were spent.
“I don’t know the kind of feasibility study they carried out. A lot of money was spent to procure CCTVs, but they are nowhere to be found,” Jaha said. “Considering the current debt burden on the nation, we must get to the root of this matter.”
The House subsequently resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the status of the CCTV project and report back for further legislative action.
The controversy surrounding the $460 million loan has lingered for years. In 2019, the 9th House of Representatives questioned the Ministry of Finance over the failed project, while in 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the government to disclose details of how the funds were utilized following a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
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