The House of Representatives has set up an ad hoc committee, chaired by Donald Ojogo, representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State, to investigate the increasing insecurity and loss of lives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite a $460 million Chinese loan invested in a CCTV project.
In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Amobi Ogah, the House directed the ad hoc committee to investigate and report its findings within four weeks.
Moving the motion, Ogah emphasized that the protection of lives and property remained the primary duty of any government adding that the CCTV project was initiated by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in Abuja.
The project involved installing surveillance cameras at key locations across the city to deter crime, monitor criminal activities, and enhance public safety.
Ogah recounted that in 2010, former Finance Minister Dr. Olusegun Aganga led a federal delegation to Beijing, China, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with ZTE Communications. The Chinese firm was subsequently awarded the contract for the CCTV installation.
He further revealed that the project was financed through a $460 million loan obtained from the China EXIM Bank, drawn from a $600 million credit facility.
According to him, the loan was structured as a soft credit with a 10-year grace period, after which repayment would span another 10 years.
“Despite the scale of investment and the financial burden now borne by Nigeria through loan repayments, the CCTV system has had little to no impact on security in Abuja,” Ogah lamented. Rather than improving, the crime rate has worsened, with daily incidents of violence and unmonitored criminal activity in the capital.”
Public anxiety has grown in recent months due to a surge in insecurity across the FCT, including cases of kidnapping and ‘one chance’ robberies. The House therefore aims to determine accountability for the failed project and recommend measures to strengthen security in the nation’s capital.
