Reps Launch Probe Into $460m Abuja CCTV Project

The House of Representatives has approved an investigation into the $460 million spent on the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project, which was intended to boost security in the nation’s capital.

The decision followed a motion raised by Rep. Amobi Ogah of the Labour Party from Abia State during Wednesday’s plenary session. The lawmaker said the federal government’s primary duty is to safeguard lives and property, noting that the non-functional CCTV system has failed to deliver that purpose.

Ogah recalled that the CCTV project was initiated under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to monitor key areas in Abuja, track criminal activities, and enhance public safety. The contract was signed in 2010 when then-Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, led a delegation to Beijing to seal a deal with Chinese firm ZTE Communications.

He explained that the project was financed through a $460 million loan from China-EXIM Bank, drawn from a $600 million credit facility. The loan was structured as a soft credit with a 10-year grace period and repayment over another 10 years.

Ogah lamented that despite the massive investment, there is little to show for it, as Abuja continues to face rising security challenges. He described the situation as troubling, given that Nigeria continues to repay a loan for a project that remains non-operational.

He further criticised the arrangement that saw both the financier and contractor come from China, saying it has left the country in a “lose-lose” situation — burdened by debt with no visible benefit.

After the motion was adopted, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu directed that an ad hoc committee be set up to investigate the matter. The committee will review the details of the contract, assess why the project failed, and determine accountability for the continued loan repayment on a system that never worked.