Insecurity: Senate probes N500bn abandoned CCTV cameras project in Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday, November 22, resolved to investigate the abandoned Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras project in the Abuja metropolis said to have been awarded at the cost of N500billion.

The resolution followed its consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Ned Nwoko (PDP – Delta North) at plenary.

The contract was said to have been awarded to a private firm during the administration of late President Musa Yar’Adua.

Nwoko, in his lead debate, insisted that despite a series of security measures already in existence, kidnapping and other security challenges are still rampant within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The senator said his Senior Legislative Aide, Chris Agidy and 18 other persons were abducted two weeks ago from their residence around the Galadimawa area of Abuja.

He noted that information from security sources on the abduction indicated that 12 out of the victims have been killed by their abductors, while efforts to rescue the remaining seven are still ongoing.

Nwoko called for a joint security operation comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security Services (DSS) to rescue the remaining victims.

He also urged the members of the Red Chamber to encourage security agencies in the country to facilitate the installation of CCTV cameras within the Abuja metropolis and other parts of the country.

In his contribution, Senator Ede Dafinone (PDP – Delta Central) who seconded the motion, said there was an urgent need to stop kidnapping and other security challenges across the country.

On his part, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South) raised the alarm that residents of Lugbe and Kubuwa areas of Abuja can no longer sleep in their homes because of the fear of being attacked by kidnappers.

He urged security agencies to increase security surveillance patrols within the FCT.

Also, Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi Central) revealed that the project was awarded at the cost of N500 billion for the installation of CCTV cameras in the Abuja metropolis.

Aliero said the contract was awarded to the contractor during his tenure as minister of the FCT.

Aliero was a Minister of the FCT between December 2008 and March 2010 under the administration of late President Yar’Adua.

The senator was silent on the name and details of the contractor who got the project, but he insisted that the installation of the CCTV cameras in the Abuja metropolis was abandoned.

He therefore called for the contract to be investigated by the Red Chamber.

Aliero lamented: “The contractor just came and installed useless cameras and nobody is saying anything.

“It is now time for us to revisit the issue of the N500 billion award of contract for the installation of CCTV cameras in the city.

“We should make the contractor account for the huge loss of money. The project has gone down the drain and nobody is talking about it.”

After much debate on the issue, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put it to voice vote and the majority of the senators voted in support of it.

Akpabio thereafter directed the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory to liaise with the Office of the Minister of FCT to investigate the abandoned contract.

The Senate President also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to increase the surveillance of patrols in Abuja to prevent kidnapping and other insecurity challenges.

Akpabio directed the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze to communicate the resolution to the appropriate authorities.