The Federal Government has informed the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that it does not possess detailed records identifying local contractors involved in the controversial $460 million Abuja CCTV project funded through a Chinese loan.
The disclosure was made by the Federal Ministry of Finance in response to ongoing contempt proceedings initiated by SERAP over alleged non-compliance with a Federal High Court judgment directing the release of information relating to the project.
In a letter dated May 15, 2026, and signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, R.O. Omachi, the government stated that available records from the Ministry of Police Affairs indicated that local subcontractors may have participated in the project, but no detailed records exist identifying the Nigerian companies involved.
SERAP Raises Transparency Concerns
Reacting to the development, SERAP described the disclosure as disturbing and questioned the transparency and accountability surrounding the implementation of the project.
In a follow-up letter dated May 23, 2026, signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation argued that Nigerians still lack clarity on the identities of local contractors despite an existing court judgment delivered in May 2023.
According to SERAP:
“Nigerians still do not know exactly the names of local contractors for the project. The absence of this information raises serious concerns about record keeping, transparency and accountability.”
The group stated that the partial information released by the government only came after contempt proceedings and a Notice to Show Cause were initiated earlier in 2026.
Questions Over Missing Project Items
SERAP also queried discrepancies surrounding missing project inventory.
According to records cited by the Ministry, only 61,970 items were reportedly delivered out of the expected 68,005 units under the National Public Security Communication System project, popularly known as the Abuja CCTV project.
The organisation demanded clarification regarding approximately 6,035 missing items and sought answers on whether they were paid for, delivered, recovered, or installed.
SERAP also requested details on the operational status of surveillance systems installed across Abuja.
Chinese Loan and Project Funding
The Ministry disclosed that Nigeria secured approximately $399.5 million from the Export-Import Bank of China between 2011 and 2013 for the project, while the Nigerian government contributed an additional $70.5 million as counterpart funding.
The government also confirmed that Chinese telecommunications company ZTE Corporation served as the principal contractor, while payments were processed through the Shenzhen branch of the Bank of China.
SERAP has now given the Ministry of Finance a 48-hour deadline to fully disclose the names of all local contractors, consultants, vendors, and subcontractors connected to the project or risk continued contempt proceedings.
