By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged misuse of the $460 million Abuja closed-circuit television (CCTV) project says its work is nearing completion.
Chairman of the committee, Donald Ojogo, disclosed this in Abuja, noting that the panel has received encouraging cooperation from key stakeholders involved in the controversial project. He said while details of the probe cannot yet be made public, engagements so far indicate that the assignment is close to being concluded.
The CCTV project, initiated in 2010, was designed to boost security in the Federal Capital Territory through real-time surveillance of strategic locations. The contract was awarded to Chinese firm ZTE Communications, with funding provided through a loan from the China Exim Bank alongside Nigeria’s counterpart contribution.
However, more than a decade after its launch, the project failed to meet its objectives, with much of the infrastructure either abandoned or non-functional. Allegations of corruption, mismanagement and poor maintenance have trailed the initiative, depriving security agencies of a critical tool amid rising crime in Abuja.
The committee’s report is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the project’s failure and recommend measures to prevent similar lapses in future public security investments.
