Reps Begin Investigation Into Jonathan’s $460m CCTV Project.

Reps.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday commenced an inquiry into the $460 million Chinese loan obtained during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for the procurement and installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enhance security.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Amobi Ogah, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, during plenary on Wednesday.

Ogah explained that the current insecurity in the FCT made it necessary to revisit the project.

It will be recalled that in 2010, the Federal Government secured a $460 million loan to install CCTV cameras across Abuja, but the project was reportedly left unexecuted.

In 2019, the 9th House of Representatives, through its Finance Committee, queried the Ministry of Finance about the status of the project and why it was not implemented.

At the time, the then Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, informed the Committee that the loan was still being serviced but failed to provide details about the project’s progress.

Similarly, in 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the federal government to release information detailing how the $460 million was spent after hearing a case filed by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project.

While presenting his motion, Ogah said the Jonathan administration, acting with good intentions, initiated the CCTV project to address insecurity in the FCT by installing surveillance cameras in strategic areas to monitor suspicious movements, prevent crimes, and aid the arrest of offenders.

He stated, “In order to firm up the above, erstwhile Finance Minister, Dr Olusegun Aganga, led a Federal Government delegation to Beijing, China in 2010 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ZTE Communications of China, to which the contract for the installation of the CCTV was equally awarded.”

Ogah added, “The House is concerned that the funds for the contract were secured through a $460m loan obtained from the China-EXIM Bank and lifted from a $600m financing portfolio secured as a soft credit loan, with interest repayable in 10 years, after an initial 10 years of grace.”

He expressed concern that despite the huge expenditure and the continued servicing of the loan, there is no evidence of the CCTV project’s effectiveness.

According to him, the supposed benefits of the CCTV project have not been realised, as crime in Abuja continues to rise, with frequent cases of unmonitored and unresolved criminal incidents.

Ogah also lamented that the country continues to repay a loan obtained for a project that remains non-functional and was executed by the same Chinese company that received the contract, describing the situation as a “lose-lose nightmare.”

Contributing to the discussion, Billy Osawaru, a lawmaker from Edo State, urged his colleagues to exercise proper legislative oversight and hold those responsible accountable.

“The House must commit to carrying out good oversight for the good of Nigerians. We must discourage bad behaviour,” he said.

Also speaking, Ahmad Jaha, representing Gwoza/Damboa/Chibok Federal Constituency in Borno State, called for a detailed investigation into the multi-million-dollar CCTV project.

“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. If you look at the fact that the present government is paying a lot of debt, you will agree that we need to get to the root of this matter,” he stated.