Reps probe Chinese firm over $470m CCTV project

The lower legislative chamber has hinted of plans to probe the $470m Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) project under the National Security Communications System (NPSCS) delivered to government.

House ad hoc Committee mandated to investigate the project plans to visit Abuja, Lagos and other states to ascertain how the public funds were put to use.

Committee Chairman, Ahmed Yerima, during an interactive session with stakeholders of the NPSCS project at the weekend however noted that the fact-finding mission became more imperative with the claims that the contractor handling the project, ZTE Nigeria had completed and delivered it.

At the commencement of the investigation, ZTE Nigeria’s Managing Director, Hao Fuqiang, in his submission to the Committee insisted  that the NPSCS project was completed and delivered in 2012 as one of world’s best Video Surveillance System (VSS) to the Federal Government.

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The project also includes Video Surveillance Subsystem which comprises of 2000 surveillance cameras with a thousand each installed in Abuja and Lagos.

Fuqiang however regretted that the project has been shut down  since its completion  in 2012 to the detriment of the country’s on-going war against terrorism.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase denied involvement of the police at the conception and commencement of the project.

The IGP, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Mrs Amisor Onu, however revealed that the control switch and other facilities of the NPSCS project were housed at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

“The building is there as we speak. Since we came on board, nothing is functioning there. There is no fuel to run the control room,” she said.

 

 

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