Koko Maxwella 
Nigeria House of Representatives
ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives opens a major inquiry into the worsening insecurity in Abuja and the failure of the $460 million CCTV surveillance project intended to support policing in the Federal Capital Territory.
Lawmakers say the investigation aims to determine why the system—financed through a Chinese loan—has not improved safety in the capital.
At the committee’s inauguration in Abuja on Thursday, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas describes the rising wave of kidnappings, armed robberies and killings in the FCT as “unacceptable and intolerable.”
He laments that Abuja, once considered one of West Africa’s safest capitals, now faces frequent violent attacks. “A project designed to deter crime, strengthen monitoring and improve response time has clearly not been delivered,” he says.
Abbas says Nigerians deserve clarity on whether funds were properly used, whether the infrastructure was abandoned or whether operational failures undermined the project.
The ad-hoc committee will conduct a forensic review of the surveillance system, inspect its current state and assess its integration with security agencies.
Represented by Julius Pondi, the Speaker says the panel must identify possible negligence or sabotage and recommend a full rehabilitation or total overhaul of the system.
He urges the FCT Minister, Ministers of Finance and Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, area council leaders and security chiefs to cooperate fully. The Speaker also calls on traditional rulers to strengthen grassroots intelligence to support policing.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Hussaini Ibrahim