$460m CCTV FCT surveillance project: Reps C’ttee panel directs CBN to halt further payment to ZTE corporation

JONAS EZIEKE, Abuja

An Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives probing the $460 million closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance project in the Federal Capital Territory has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend any further disbursements to ZTE Corporation pending satisfactory explanations on the execution of the contract.

The resolution was adopted in Abuja on Tuesday after lawmakers expressed deep frustration over what they described as inconsistencies, vague responses, and a lack of transparency from ZTE officials regarding the scope, deployment locations, and current operational status of the project.

As part of its directive, the committee mandated the company to reappear with comprehensive and verifiable documentation.

This includes a detailed inventory of all equipment supplied and installed, precise locations of the infrastructure nationwide, as well as the identities and contact details of the 456 Nigerians the company claimed were trained to operate and maintain the system.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon.Ali Shettima, representing Bursari/Geidam/Yunusari Federal Constituency, and seconded by Kolawale Akinlayo during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly.

In his opening remarks, Committee Chairman Donald Ojogo clarified that the exercise was not a witch-hunt but a fact-finding mission aimed at addressing growing public concern.

“This is a constructive engagement, not an attempt to witch-hunt anyone. Nigerians deserve clear answers, and we expect ZTE to respond in line with the documents before us,” he stated.

Representing the company, Irene Momoh said ZTE supplied and installed CCTV infrastructure in Abuja and Lagos, noting that the project was completed between 2011 and 2012.

However, under questioning, he admitted uncertainty about the current functionality of the system.

“To the best of our knowledge, the equipment was delivered and installed within the project timeline, but I cannot confirm its present operational status,” he said.

The response sparked strong reactions from lawmakers, who questioned how a project of such magnitude could lack a sustainable maintenance and continuity framework.

Momoh explained that ZTE had an initial three-month maintenance agreement, which it voluntarily extended to six months before handing over the system.

He attributed the project’s decline to the government’s inability to sustain funding post-handover.

“There was no continued funding from the government to maintain and run the system after handover,” he added.

Despite this explanation, lawmakers challenged several of the company’s claims, particularly on the geographical spread of the installations.

Citing documents from the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, Iyawe Esosa disputed ZTE’s assertion that installations were limited to Abuja and Lagos.

“Official records indicate installations in Edo State. As someone who lives in Benin City, I can confidently say these facilities do not exist in the listed locations,” he said.

Momoh, however, maintained that all items captured in the Bill of Quantities were duly supplied and installed in accordance with contractual terms.

Similarly, Akinlayo rejected claims of installations in Ekiti State, insisting there was no evidence of deployment across the state.

“None of the locations listed, including Ado-Ekiti, has any of these facilities. Outside Lagos, there is no visible deployment in the South-West,” he asserted.

Tensions escalated when Momoh attributed gaps in his responses to the fact that he only assumed office in 2023, noting that several officials involved in the original contract were no longer with the company.

Lawmakers viewed this as an attempt to evade responsibility and warned of a possible referral to the Nigerian Bar Association for disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, a representative of the apex bank, Josiah Okike, advised the committee to route its directive through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for proper implementation.

He disclosed that as of March 2026, ZTE was due to receive $15.37 million under the loan repayment arrangement.

The committee subsequently resolved to invite the company for further questioning and insisted on documentary proof of project handover, including details of the government agencies that assumed custody of the infrastructure.

The CCTV project was initiated under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as part of efforts to strengthen urban security through modern surveillance systems.

Funded through a loan agreement with the Chinese government and executed by ZTE Corporation, the initiative was designed to deploy thousands of cameras across major cities, including Abuja and Lagos, supported by integrated command-and-control centres to aid law enforcement.

While initially hailed as a major step toward tackling insecurity—ranging from terrorism to kidnapping and urban crime—the project has since been plagued by controversy.

Years after its reported completion, questions persist over its visibility, functionality, and overall impact.

Successive administrations have faced criticism for failing to sustain the infrastructure, with recurring challenges including poor maintenance, limited technical capacity, funding gaps, and alleged contractual irregularities.

The ongoing probe by the House of Representatives is the latest attempt to unravel what lawmakers describe as a significant public investment that has yielded little or no measurable impact on national security.

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