The Nigerian House of Representatives has resolved to investigate a US $460 million (≈ N460 billion) Chinese loan taken by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the installation of CCTV cameras across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The motion, moved on Wednesday by Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia), described the project as a “lose-lose nightmare” and pointed out that “despite the heavy investment and continuous servicing of the loan, the crime rate has soared in Abuja”, calling for a thorough audit and performance report.
The loan, arranged with China Exim Bank, was meant to fund CCTV installations by Chinese firm ZTE Communications under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Beijing in 2010 by then-Minister of Finance Olusegun Aganga.
The resolution demands that committees on Finance and Security report back within six weeks, stressing that efforts to ensure public safety must match financial commitments.
This investigation places renewed scrutiny on past Federal Government surveillance projects and the institutions overseeing them, raising important questions about accountability, debt servicing and security outcomes.
