The $460 million CCTV system in Abuja will be subjected to investigation as the House of Representatives has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to carry out the assignment.
This follows the rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite the installation of the CCTV system.
According to reports that the $460 million CCTV system was funded through a Chinese loan.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, the Speaker of the House, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, described the growing wave of kidnappings, armed robberies and killings in the FCT as “unacceptable and intolerable.”
Abbas particularly noted that Abuja, once seen as one of the West Africa’s most peaceful capitals, is now grappling with frequent violent crimes.
He, therefore, questioned why the multi million dollar CCTV project, designed to enhance surveillance and security operations has failed to curb the worsening security situation saying Nigerians deserve answers on whether the massive investment was properly deployed, abandoned or crippled by mismanagement.
He said the committee’s mandate includes a forensic investigation into the project’s status, operational capacity, level of integration with security agencies and reasons for its failure to deliver results.
Abbas, represented by a lawmaker, Julius Pondi, said the committee is also expected to identify any acts of negligence or sabotage and recommend steps for activating or overhauling the system.
The speaker urged the Ministers of FCT, Finance, and Interior, alongside the Inspector General of Police, council chairmen and heads of security agencies, to offer full cooperation, appealing to traditional rulers to strengthen intelligence sharing with security operatives.
Abbas said the House “will not stand idly by” while Abuja residents live in fear, stressing that every legislative tool will be deployed to ensure accountability and improved security.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ojogo Donald Kimikanboh, said the worsening security challenges in Abuja had turned the city into a “theatre of fear.”
He added that the committee’s task was a national responsibility owed to grieving families and anxious residents.
Ojogo described the failed CCTV project as a “scandal of monumental proportions,” noting that despite the huge investment, the system has not provided the expected security shield for the FCT.
He outlined the committee’s work, including auditing the $460 million expenditure, evaluating the project’s technical integrity, establishing its functionality and uncovering the causes of the persistent security breaches.
“We are not on a witch hunt but a truth hunt,” he said, adding that the committee would pursue its assignment with diligence, integrity, and a commitment to restoring public confidence.