Nigeria’s House of Representatives has ignited a fiery probe into a $460 million Chinese loan for the Abuja CCTV project, a decade-old initiative meant to lock down the capital but left it exposed instead.
On October 22, 2025, lawmakers unanimously backed a motion to dig deep, triggered by surging insecurity and needless deaths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This isn’t just an investigation—it’s a showdown against a scandal that’s drained billions while leaving streets unsafe.
The motion, led by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), pulls no punches: “Why are we still bleeding cash on a ghost project while robbers and kidnappers roam free?” The House’s ad hoc committee is set to unearth the truth, reporting back in four weeks to spark real change.
The Failed CCTV Dream
Back in 2010, under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria borrowed $460 million from China’s EXIM Bank part of a $600 million soft loan with 10 years of grace before repayment. The goal? Install advanced cameras across Abuja to boost surveillance, aid cops, and slash crime.
ZTE Communications, a Chinese firm, won the contract after a MoU signed in Beijing. Fast-forward 15 years: no cameras, no safety net, but the loan payments roll on relentlessly.
Ogah slammed the “lose-lose nightmare,” where Nigeria shoulders debt for a phantom system. “We’re paying billions for nothing while insecurity festers,” he thundered, calling it a blatant case of mismanagement that demands answers.
Alarming Crime Wave
Abuja, the nation’s heart, is bleeding. Robberies, kidnappings, and attacks plague the FCT, with no sign of the promised CCTV shield. Ogah highlighted the “rising insecurity and needless deaths,” blaming the project’s flop for leaving citizens vulnerable.
Despite the massive outlay, the capital’s streets remain lawless, a stark betrayal of the loan’s purpose.
Lawmakers like Billy Osawaru (Edo) and Ahmad Jaha (Borno) piled on, urging tough questions and swift action. “Oversight isn’t optional it’s our duty to stop this waste,” Osawaru roared. The House’s resolve is clear: time for transparency and reform.
The Probe’s Mission
The ad hoc committee, comprising the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Finance, and Public Accounts, will dissect every angle:
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The loan’s procurement and disbursement.
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ZTE’s contract execution and delivery.
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The CCTV system’s technical status and functionality.
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Repayment details and financial burden on Nigeria.
The report will guide future laws, ensuring public funds aren’t squandered again. This isn’t just a review it’s a reckoning for a project that’s haunted Nigeria’s finances and safety for years.
A Pattern of Waste
This scandal isn’t new. In 2019, the 9th House grilled the Finance Ministry, getting vague assurances on repayments but no project update.
In 2023, a Federal High Court mandated full disclosure after a civil society suit, yet transparency lags. The current probe cuts deeper, targeting the heart of the failure amid ongoing insecurity.
Ogah decried the “disruption of lives and property,” with the FCT’s chaos a direct result of the non-functional system. The House’s action could finally deliver the oversight Nigeria deserves.
A Nation Demands Answers
This investigation is a lifeline for Abuja’s beleaguered residents. With criminals thriving unchecked, the CCTV fiasco symbolizes broken promises.
Lawmakers vow to expose the truth, from loan mishandling to contract flops, and recommend fixes to safeguard the future. As Nigeria grapples with insecurity, this probe promises hope or a harsh reality check.
The clock ticks. Will the committee’s report spark reform, or drag on like the project itself? Nigerians wait, demanding justice for a $460 million wound that’s festered too long.
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