Reps launch probe into $460m Chinese loan for Abuja CCTV project

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the $460 million Chinese loan secured to finance the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project, which was aimed at improving security in the nation’s capital.

This decision came after lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah of the Labour Party (LP), representing Abia State, during Wednesday’s plenary session.

Moving the motion, Ogah recalled that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan embarked on the CCTV cameras around strategic areas in Abuja to monitor unwholesome activities with a view to preventing crime and placing surveillance on criminals and apprehending same.

He noted that in order to firm up the above, erstwhile Finance Minister, Dr Olusegun Aganga, led a Federal Government delegation to Beijing, China, in 2010 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ZTE Communications of China to which the contract for the installation of the CCTV was equally awarded.

Ogah expressed concern that the funds for the contract were secured through a $460m loan obtained from the China-EXIM Bank and lifted from a $600m financing portfolio secured as a soft credit loan, with interest repayable in 10 years, after an initial 10 years of grace.

“More concerned that despite this huge investment as well as the financial burden Nigeria is subjected to by way of servicing the loan, the impact of the CCTV is not felt in any manner. Rather than abating, crime rate has soared in Abuja leading to daily reports of deaths arising from unmonitored crimes around the Federal Capital.