The Federal Government (FG) has told the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that it has no detailed records of local contractors who received funds from the $460 million Abuja CCTV project, despite a 2023 court order mandating full disclosure.

In a letter dated May 15, 2026, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, R. O. Omachi, it was revealed that “records from the Ministry of Police Affairs indicate that while local subcontractors may have been engaged, there is an absence of detailed subcontracting records identifying specific local companies that received funds directly from the Chinese loan.”

The disclosure came only after SERAP initiated contempt proceedings in January 2026 over the government’s failure to comply with a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on May 15, 2023.

The judgment ordered the Ministry to release the total amount paid under the loan, the identities of local and Chinese contractors, the project status, and details of the N1.5 billion reportedly paid for the Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters.

Responding in a letter dated May 23, 2026, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said Nigerians still “do not know exactly the names of local contractors for the project,” describing the Ministry’s response as only partial compliance.

The Ministry confirmed that the Federal Government received $399.5 million from the Export-Import Bank of China for the National Public Security Communication System, drawn in 10 instalments between March 2011 and December 2013.

It would be recalled th’t Nigeria contributed $70.5 million as counterpart funding, representing 15 per cent of the $470 million total project cost, while ZTE Corporation of China was named the principal contractor, with payments routed through the Bank of China, Shenzhen Branch.

Of the 68,005 expected equipment units, 61,970 were delivered, leaving 6,035 items unaccounted for.

Delivered items included GOTA phones, data cards, PC servers, LED monitors, and cables.

The Ministry clarified that the N1.5 billion mobilisation fee for the Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters was not part of the Chinese loan.

SERAP said critical questions remain unanswered, including how many cameras were installed and where, whether they are operational, and whether the project delivered value for money.

The group has given the Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, 48 hours to provide full details or face contempt proceedings.

“SERAP shall proceed with our contempt proceedings against the Federal Ministry of Finance for failure to fully and effectively comply with the judgment,” Oluwadare stated.

The rights group argued that full disclosure is urgent given the persistent insecurity in Abuja and across the country, noting that the CCTV project was meant to strengthen surveillance and public safety.

“Where hundreds of millions of dollars were borrowed in the name of public safety, transparency is essential,” SERAP said.

SERAP is demanding the publication of all Nigerian companies, subcontractors, and vendors involved, the amounts paid to each, the nature of work done, certificates of completion, and an account of the 6,035 undelivered items. (Sunday Tribune)

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