The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to disclose the identities of all local contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and vendors that benefited from payments under the National Public Security Communication System in Abuja, popularly known as the $460 million Abuja CCTV project.
SERAP’s demand comes amid concerns over what it describes as incomplete compliance with a 2023 Federal High Court judgment ordering full disclosure of how the funds were spent.
In a letter dated May 23, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said Nigerians still do not have a clear breakdown of local beneficiaries involved in the project, despite partial information recently released by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry had earlier, in a response dated May 15, 2026, stated that while local subcontractors may have been engaged, there were no detailed records identifying the specific Nigerian companies that received funds under the Chinese loan component of the project. The response was signed by the Permanent Secretary, R. O. Omachi.
SERAP said the disclosure followed its contempt proceedings and a notice to show cause issued in January 2026, arguing that the government only began releasing information after legal pressure was applied.
According to the organisation, the lack of full disclosure raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and proper record-keeping in the execution of the project.
A Federal High Court had earlier ordered the Ministry of Finance to disclose the total funds received, the identities of both foreign and local contractors involved, the project’s implementation status, and details of related security infrastructure spending.
SERAP maintained that the information provided so far amounts to only partial compliance with the court’s ruling.
The group also raised concerns about unresolved gaps in project records, including the fate of over 6,000 unaccounted items listed under the project, and the lack of clarity on whether key surveillance infrastructure was ever fully installed or remains operational.
It further questioned whether the project delivered value for money, noting that Nigerians are still experiencing widespread insecurity despite the large investment intended to strengthen surveillance and emergency response in the Federal Capital Territory.
SERAP argued that full disclosure is necessary because the project was financed through public borrowing that continues to be repaid by Nigerians, adding that citizens have a right to know how the funds were used and who benefited.
The organisation warned that failure to fully comply with the court’s judgment could undermine public trust in government institutions and weaken confidence in the judiciary.
It also stressed that transparency is particularly important given ongoing security challenges across the country, including kidnappings and violent crime in Abuja and other states.
SERAP urged the Ministry of Finance to publish all remaining details, including the names of all Nigerian firms and individuals involved, and to fully implement the court’s judgment without further delay.
