The Contractor Just Came And Installed Useless Cameras And …. – Senate Probes N500 Billion Abuja CCTV Cameras Project

After a debate on the issue, Senate President Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote, with a majority of senators expressing support for the investigation into the abandoned installation of CCTV cameras in Abuja. Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on FCT to collaborate with the Office of the Minister of FCT to conduct the investigation. He also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to enhance surveillance patrols in Abuja to address kidnapping and other security challenges.

The Senate President instructed the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, to communicate the resolution to the relevant authorities. The failed Abuja CCTV camera project had previously undergone legislative scrutiny in the House of Representatives during the 9th National Assembly.

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In 2019, then-Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed revealed to a House committee that Nigeria was still servicing the $460 million Chinese loan obtained in 2010 for the CCTV cameras in Abuja, even though the project was not executed.

Following this disclosure, SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) wrote a letter, invoking the Freedom of Information Act, to the Minister of Finance, requesting detailed information on the project. When the information was not released, SERAP filed a lawsuit against the minister and the federal government, seeking a court order to compel disclosure.

In May of the current year, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted SERAP’s request, ordering the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari government to “account for the spending of $460 million Chinese loan to fund the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project.”

The court also directed the government to “publish the total amount of money paid to Chinese and local companies and contractors, specific details of the names of the companies and contractors, and the status of the implementation of the project.” However, there is no indication that the judgment has been complied with.