The House of Representatives has launched a fresh probe into the controversial $460 million Chinese loan secured by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across Abuja — a project that remains largely invisible 15 years later.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance raised on Wednesday by Hon. Amobi Ogah, who represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State. Ogah said the alarming rise in insecurity within the Federal Capital Territory has made it imperative for lawmakers to revisit the failed CCTV initiative.
The project, awarded in 2010 to Chinese firm ZTE Communications, was intended to boost security surveillance in strategic areas of the capital. The loan — part of a $600 million soft credit facility from China-EXIM Bank — was to be repaid over 10 years, with another 10 years of grace.
Despite the heavy investment and years of loan servicing, no functional CCTV system exists in Abuja. Instead, lawmakers say the city has witnessed escalating criminal activities, including kidnappings and violent attacks, which the project was supposed to help prevent.
Ogah described the situation as a national embarrassment, noting that Nigeria continues to pay millions of dollars on a loan for equipment that was never delivered. “This leaves the country in a lose-lose nightmare,” he lamented.
In 2019, the 9th House questioned the Ministry of Finance about the unexecuted project. The then Minister, Zainab Ahmed, admitted that loan repayments were ongoing but failed to provide any clarity on the project’s status. In 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Federal Government to disclose details of how the $460 million was spent, following a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Contributing to the debate, Edo lawmaker Billy Osawaru urged his colleagues to “ask tough questions” and ensure the National Assembly fulfills its oversight responsibilities. Similarly, Hon. Ahmad Jaha of Borno State called for a full-scale investigation, questioning how such a massive project could vanish without trace.
“I don’t know the kind of feasibility study they carried out,” Jaha said. “A lot of money was spent to procure CCTVs, but they are nowhere to be found. The government is still paying the debt, and Nigerians deserve to know the truth.”
The House resolved to mandate its relevant committees to investigate the loan, the contract execution, and the current status of the CCTV infrastructure within the FCT.
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