The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has demanded full disclosure of all Nigerian contractors and beneficiaries linked to the controversial $460 million Abuja CCTV project after the Federal Government admitted it has no detailed records of local companies involved in the deal.
SERAP made the demand in a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, urging the Federal Government to immediately publish the identities of all local contractors, subcontractors, consultants and vendors that benefited from payments under the National Public Security Communication System project, widely known as the Abuja CCTV project.
The request followed disclosures by the Federal Ministry of Finance in response to contempt proceedings initiated by SERAP over the government’s failure to comply with a court judgment ordering transparency on the project.
According to the Ministry, records obtained from the Ministry of Police Affairs showed that although local subcontractors “may have been engaged,” there were no detailed records identifying specific Nigerian companies that directly received funds from the Chinese loan used to finance the project.
The disclosure was contained in a letter dated May 15, 2026, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, R. O. Omachi.
Reacting to the development, SERAP said the absence of detailed records raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and record keeping within government institutions.
In a letter dated May 23, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation stated that Nigerians still do not know the identities of local contractors involved in the CCTV project despite a Federal High Court judgment delivered in May 2023.
SERAP noted that the Ministry only released partial information after the organisation commenced contempt proceedings and served a Notice to Show Cause in January 2026.
The group described the disclosure as incomplete compliance with the judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite.
According to SERAP, critical questions surrounding the implementation of the project remain unanswered.
On May 15, 2023, the Federal High Court ordered the Ministry of Finance to disclose the total amount paid under the $460 million Abuja CCTV loan, the identities of local and Chinese contractors involved, the implementation status of the project, details relating to the reported N1.5 billion payment for the Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters project
SERAP argued that the information released by the government falls short of the court’s directive.
The organisation said the Ministry failed to explain the whereabouts of 6,035 project items reportedly missing from the inventory records.
According to SERAP, it remains unclear whether the items were delivered, whether payment was made for them, whether the contractor defaulted, or whether Nigeria suffered financial losses.
The Ministry of Finance disclosed that the Federal Government received $399.5 million from the Export-Import Bank of China for the Abuja CCTV project.
It stated that the funds were drawn down in 10 instalments between March 2011 and December 2013.
The Ministry also confirmed that the Federal Government contributed an additional $70.5 million as counterpart funding, bringing the total project value to approximately $470 million.
According to the Ministry, the naira equivalent of the counterpart funding amounted to N10.68 billion at an exchange rate of N150 to one dollar, including a one per cent commission charged by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The government further identified ZTE Corporation as the principal contractor for the project, with payments processed through the Bank of China, Shenzhen Branch.
The Ministry said inventory records showed that 61,970 equipment units were delivered out of the expected 68,005 units, leaving 6,035 items outstanding.
The delivered items reportedly included GOTA phones, data cards, PC servers, LED monitors, cables and communications infrastructure.
However, SERAP insisted that the government failed to clarify how many CCTV cameras were installed, where they were installed, whether the systems are currently operational, and whether the project delivered value for money.
The organisation argued that Nigerians deserve transparency, especially as the loan used for the project continues to be repaid with public funds.
SERAP gave the Ministry of Finance 48 hours to provide additional records and comply fully with the court judgment or risk further contempt proceedings.
The organisation stressed that transparency surrounding the Abuja CCTV project has become even more important amid worsening insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country.
According to SERAP, Nigerians are entitled to know whether the massive public investment in surveillance infrastructure improved security outcomes in Abuja.
The group also urged the Federal Government to publish the names of all Nigerian companies and subcontractors involved in the project, the amount paid to each contractor and the services rendered and certificates of project completion and detailed explanations regarding the 6,035 undelivered items.
SERAP maintained that full compliance with the court judgment is necessary to strengthen public confidence in government accountability and uphold the rule of law under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.