Di Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) don call on Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to make im disclose di identities of all local contractors, subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and oda entities wey benefit from di $460 million Abuja CCTV Project.
Di Federal Ministry of Finance, for response to SERAP contempt proceedings, don tok say: “Records from Ministry of Police Affairs show say while local subcontractors fit don dey engaged, we no get detailed subcontracting records wey go identify specific local companies wey receive funds directly from di Chinese loan.” Di Ministry make dis disclosure for letter wey dem write on 15 May 2026, signed by Permanent Secretary R. O. Omachi.
SERAP reply on 23 May 2026, wit letter signed by dia Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. Dem tok say: “We dey concerned say though di judgment bin deliver for May 2023, di Ministry only release some information after we start contempt proceedings and serve Notice to Show Cause for January 2026.”
According to SERAP, “Nigerians still no know di exact names of local contractors for di project. Di absence of dis information raise serious concerns about record keeping, transparency and accountability, and weda di project bin implement for manner wey dey consistent wit public interest.”
SERAP add say: “Di details wey dem provide amount to only partial compliance wit Justice Emeka Nwite judgment. Key questions remain unanswered, and furder clarification dey needed to ensure full and effective compliance wit di judgment.”
Di letter from SERAP read: “We go appreciate if di requested details dey provided within 48 hours of di receipt and/or publication of dis letter. If we no hear from you by den, SERAP go proceed wit our contempt proceedings against di Federal Ministry of Finance for failure to fully and effectively comply wit di judgment of di Federal High Court.”
SERAP note say dem appreciate di steps wey di Ministry take to provide some information concerning di Chinese loan drawdown, counterpart funding arrangements, and certain records on equipment deliveries wey connect to di project. But dem say: “However, there still no explanation regarding di missing 6,035 items as part of di status of implementation of di project. E remain unclear weda di items bin subsequently deliver, weda payment bin make for dem, weda di contractor default, weda Nigeria suffer any financial loss, and weda any steps bin take to recover public funds.”
“Di Ministry list items wey dem reportedly deliver for 2013. But dem fail to clarify how many cameras bin install, if any; where dem install dem; weda di cameras dey currently operational; and weda di project deliver value for money.”
“For a project wey dem finance through public borrowing—debt wey Nigerians still dey repay—full transparency over all beneficiaries, foreign and domestic, dey essential. Nigerians get right to know how public funds bin spend, who receive dem, and wetin dem deliver for return.”
SERAP stress say compliance wit court judgments dey fundamental to rule of law and constitutional governance. Government agencies no fit selectively comply wit judicial orders or release partial information while withholding records central to public accountability.
“Full implementation of Justice Emeka Nwite judgment dey necessary not only to uphold public right to information, but also to strengthen confidence for judiciary and reinforce di accountability of public institutions under di law.”
“Failure to fully comply wit Justice Emeka Nwite judgment dey risk undermining di authority of di courts, weakening democratic accountability, and denying Nigerians access to information on di use of public resources.”
Di urgency of full disclosure dey heighten by di continuing security crisis across Nigeria, including persistent insecurity for Abuja, where di project bin specifically intend to strengthen surveillance, public safety, and emergency response.
Residents of di Federal Capital Territory and several states, including Benue and Oyo, continue to face abductions, violent crime, and oda serious threats to safety, while communities across di country grapple wit widespread insecurity and loss of lives.
Against dis backdrop, Nigerians dey entitled to know weda di Abuja CCTV project bin fully deliver, weda e become operational, weda di infrastructure dey functional, and weda di huge public investment achieve di promised security outcomes.
Where hundreds of millions of dollars bin borrow for name of public safety, transparency dey essential. Accountability become even more urgent when insecurity persist despite such significant public expenditure.
Nigerians deserve clear answers about wetin bin deliver, who benefit financially, weda di project become fully operational, and weda di funds wey dem invest improve security for Abuja and across di country.
Di Federal Government suppose seize dis opportunity to fully comply wit Justice Emeka Nwite judgment, disclose all outstanding records, and reassure Nigerians say public resources wey dem allocate for name of security bin lawfully spend and effectively use.
Di Export-Import Bank of China provide di loan for di National Public Security Communication System, wey dem commonly call Abuja CCTV Project. According to di Ministry, di funds bin draw down for ten instalments between March 2011 and December 2013, totaling US$470 million, wey include Central Bank of Nigeria commission.
Di Ministry also confirm say di principal contractor for di project na ZTE Corporation of China, wit payments wey dem make through Bank of China, Shenzhen Branch. But while di Ministry say local subcontractors “may have been engaged,” e claim say e no get detailed records wey dey identify local companies wey dem pay from di loan.
According to di Ministry, several equipment items—including GOTA phones, data cards, PC servers, LED monitors, cables, and related communications infrastructure—bin deliver. Inventory records show 61,970 units deliver out of 68,005 expected, leaving 6,035 units outstanding.
Di Ministry also clarify say di Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters project no be part of di Chinese loan arrangement.
SERAP dey urge Mr Oyedele and di Federal Ministry of Finance to fully, effectively, and urgently implement di judgment of di Federal High Court wey order disclosure of information relating to di Abuja CCTV project.
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