$470m Gone, Yet No CCTV in Abuja – Barr. Darlington QueriesABUJA

Legal analyst and public affairs commentator, Barrister Darlington, has raised fresh concerns over the missing $470 million reportedly spent on the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Despite the massive expenditure, the project remains non-functional years after its launch, leaving citizens questioning how such a huge amount could vanish without results.

Speaking during a political discourse, Barr. Darlington criticized what he described as a classic example of corruption and mismanagement in Nigeria’s public sector. He questioned why successive administrations have failed to provide accountability or complete the security project that was originally designed to enhance surveillance and combat insecurity in the capital.[irp posts=”46707″ ]

According to him, “It is embarrassing that after spending $470 million of taxpayers’ money, Abuja still has no working CCTV cameras. Nigerians have every right to ask — where did the money go? Who was responsible for this failure, and why has no one been held accountable?”

He emphasized that the lack of functional CCTV cameras has greatly hindered law enforcement efforts in Abuja, especially in cases of kidnapping, car theft, and other criminal activities.

Barr. Darlington further urged the government to revisit the contract, investigate all parties involved, and make the findings public to restore citizens’ trust in governance.

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“The fight against corruption must go beyond talk,” he stated. “Until those responsible for failed projects like this are prosecuted and funds recovered, Nigeria will continue to suffer from poor governance and insecurity.”

The controversial CCTV project, initiated over a decade ago, was intended to provide real-time monitoring across key locations in Abuja. However, it has since become a symbol of unfulfilled promises and lack of transparency in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.