Reps Probe Jonathan’s $460m CCTV Project
The House of Representatives has launched a fresh investigation into the controversial $460 million National Public Security Communications System (NPSCS) project, popularly known as the Abuja CCTV project, initiated under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Lawmakers say the probe aims to uncover why the massive security infrastructure, designed to enhance surveillance and combat crime across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has largely remained non-functional more than a decade after its launch.
The House Committee on Public Assets, chaired by Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos), raised questions over the management of the project funds, the role of the Chinese firm ZTE Corporation, and the continued payment of maintenance fees despite the system’s failure to deliver tangible results.
During plenary on Wednesday, Kuye noted that the contract, financed through a $460 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, was intended to provide over 2,000 CCTV cameras, 37 switch stations, and 10,000 walkie-talkies across Abuja and other major cities. However, reports indicate that most of the installations have either been vandalised, abandoned, or never fully activated.
“It is unacceptable that Nigeria is still repaying a multi-million-dollar loan for a project that has offered no measurable security benefit,” Kuye said. “This House must ensure that every dollar is accounted for.”
Lawmakers expressed concern that the non-operational state of the project has hindered crime prevention efforts, particularly in the FCT, where incidents of kidnapping, car theft, and banditry have increased in recent years.
The committee resolved to summon officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Interior, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and ZTE Corporation to provide detailed explanations on the project’s execution, funding, and current status.
Analysts say the probe could expose systemic corruption and mismanagement in Nigeria’s security infrastructure contracts, many of which have remained uncompleted despite heavy public spending.
The House has given the investigative committee four weeks to present its findings and recommendations for further legislative action.
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