The National Public Security Communication System, a $470 million project launched in 2010, aimed to provide Abuja and Lagos with a technological advantage in public security. The project, awarded to Chinese telecommunications company ZTE Corporation, involved video surveillance, communications infrastructure, emergency response facilities, and other technology to support security agencies. China Exim Bank provided $399.5 million, while Nigeria contributed $70.5 million in counterpart funding. The project was designed to be an integrated security communications system, not just a CCTV project.
The project faced issues with its operation and sustainability. In 2016, police officials told a House committee that the system was not running due to a lack of provision for fuel to power it. Stakeholders gave lawmakers conflicting accounts about whether the project had been completed, properly handed over, and why it was no longer functioning. This raised concerns about the project's maintenance and operational funding. The Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that 61,970 equipment items were delivered out of 68,005 expected, leaving 6,035 items outstanding.
The dormant state of the network led to vandalism and deterioration of facilities. The Federal Government acknowledged that the network had been vandalised and some facilities had progressively deteriorated. In 2023, the government announced a project management team and a concession arrangement to revive the network. However, the failure of the surveillance system has had significant implications for security in Abuja. The city's experience with kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes has highlighted the need for a functional surveillance system.
A personal account related to the author by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) highlights the human impact of the failed surveillance system. Two members of the SAN's staff were abducted after taking a taxi in the Three Arms Zone, near the Nigeria Police Force headquarters. The abductors reportedly told the victims that they should not expect help because the cameras in the area were not working. The victims were eventually released, but the incident underscores the consequences of a non-functional surveillance system.
In October 2025, the House of Representatives reopened the matter and established an ad hoc committee to investigate the CCTV project and the continuing insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory. The committee, chaired by Donald Ojogo, was expected to examine the project's status, its integration with security agencies, possible negligence or sabotage, and what could be done to revive or overhaul it. The committee's investigation aimed to answer key questions about the project's delivery, installation, custody, maintenance, and failure.
The failure of the surveillance system has created a security environment that emboldens criminals. A functional surveillance system would create uncertainty for criminals, making it more difficult for them to operate. However, the current system's failure has removed this uncertainty, making it easier for criminals to operate with impunity. The city's residents and visitors are left vulnerable to crime, highlighting the need for a swift resolution to the issue.
The Abuja and Lagos CCTV project serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper planning, execution, and maintenance of critical infrastructure projects. The project's failure has significant implications for Nigeria's security and highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the country's approach to public security. The government must take steps to revive the project and ensure that it is fully functional to provide a safer environment for citizens.
Key points
- The $470 million CCTV project for Abuja and Lagos, launched in 2010, remains largely non-functional due to issues with maintenance, vandalism, and operational funding.
