By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to probe federal government’s investment of $460 million on CCTV cameras installation in strategic areas in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja
In a motion moved during plenary, yesterday, by Honourable Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
In his lead debate, the lawmaker urged for urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the non functional CCTV system and its failure to deliver on core objective of ensuring absolute security within and outside the territory.
Ogah further recalled that the administration of immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan had in 2010 approved the installation of CCTV cameras across strategic areas in Abuja to monitor and prevent all forms of criminal activities in the capital territory.
According to the lawmaker, the project was a deliberate attempts to strengthen national security architecture as well as provide law enforcement agencies with reliable surveillance data for effective crime prevention and control within Abuja and beyond.
He explained that the federal government, under the supervision of then Finance Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with ZTE Communications of China for the execution and implementation of the CCTV project.
He equally informed that the contract was financed through a $460 million loan obtained from the China-EXIM Bank as part of a $600 million financing package, structured with a 10-year grace period and an additional 10 years for repayment.
Again, the lawmaker used the opportunity to express deep concern that despite the massive financial commitment by the government, the CCTV infrastructure has remained largely inoperative even as the Nigeria continues to service the debt.
Consequently, the lawmaker also lamented that crime and insecurity have taken an unimaginable dimension in Abuja adding that there have been frequent reports of kidnapping, car theft, and violent attacks unchecked in several parts of the territory.
He observed that the situation has become a national embarrassment most especially because Nigeria is currently repaying a foreign loan for a project that has woefully failed to function as projected.
He equally described the development as “a loose nightmare” for the country emphasising that both the financial cost and the human consequences of the failed surveillance system have left citizens very vulnerable to attacks, kidnapping among others.
While calling for urgent security measure to address insecurity, the lawmaker warned that the ongoing security lapses in the federal capital pose grave implications for national security, investor confidence as well as the country’s international reputation.
Consequently, the House presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu resolved to constitute an ad-hoc panel to probe the $460 million CCTV project regarding the terms of the Chinese loan,the reasons behind the non effective state of the system and the way forward.
According to the lawmakers, the ad-hoc committee is expected to interface with the relevant ministries, security agencies and all contractors contractors involved.
They were also mandated to probe beyond the surface and make recommendations for appropriate legislative and executive actions.
…Vow To Unearth Alleged Non-repatriated $850bn Oil, Non-oil Export Proceeds
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
An ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has pledged to probe and unearth alleged Nigeria’s non-repatriated 850 billion dollar oil and non-oil export proceeds between 1996 and 2014.
Chairman, Ad hoc Committee to Investigate Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and the Non-Repatriation of Crude Oil Proceeds, Rep. Seyi Sowunmi ,LP-Lagos, made this known, yesterday, in Abuja.
Addressing newsmen at the inauguration of the Committee, Sowunmi said that recent allegations suggested a significant breakdown in compliance by relevant stakeholders.
“It is alleged that operators in the oil and gas industry failed to repatriate an estimated 40 to 45% of Nigeria’s crude oil export proceeds, amounting to approximately 850 billion dollar between 1996 and 2014 in clear contravention of the law.
“Even more worrisome is the disparity among export-earnings data reported by government agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, the Department of Petroleum Resources ,Now NUPRC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the National Bureau of Statistics, as well as the inconsistencies between Nigerian and international bodies such as OPEC data.
“The non-oil export, especially solid minerals from mining activities and production and export of commodities allegedly have high non-compliant export earnings reports.
“The House of Representatives, in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, set up this committee to investigate the massive revenue leakage stated above.
“This committee will conduct investigative public hearings to determine the exact amount of oil, gas and non-oil export proceeds non-repatriated since 1996″, he said.
The lawmaker said that the committee would also ascertain why government agencies were in the habit of reporting conflicting export-earnings data, engage experts for forensic reconciliation of export-proceeds accounts and investigate the management and utilisation of funds under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme.
According to him, the committee will be guided strictly by evidence, data driven, transparent, and verifiable documents and not speculation.
The lawmaker said that Nigeria must receive, in full and promptly, every dollar legally due from its exports.
He, however, stated that the success of the committee would depend on the collective support of Nigerians for the benefit of the country.
“Our measure of success is not publicity, but verifiable financial recovery to the Federation Account.
“This is a whole-of-system exercise. Operators must supply shipment-to-receipt trails; regulators must reconcile production, certification, and forex returns.
“Financial institutions must provide account-level evidence of repatriation within time. Where breaches are discovered, appropriate civil and criminal sanctions shall be applied”, he said.
The chairman pledged to provide periodic factual updates and publish non-sensitive documents, where necessary.
Sowunmi urged the media to focus on verifiable progress and avoid premature figures that could mislead the public.
He said that the committee would actively utilise existing whistle-blowing channels, guaranteeing confidentiality and possible rewards for credible information from industry staff members, inspection agents, bankers and concerned citizens.
The lawmaker urged all stakeholders, corporate and individual, to cooperate fully with the committee, saying that the inquiry was non-partisan, but to protect and strengthen the country’s economy.
