$470m CCTV contract: Reps ask NSA to handle project

..Reject Privatization Of Public Security

The House of Representatives yesterday enjoined the authorities to urgently provide funds to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to activate the operations of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) nationwide.

Adopting the report of its ad-hoc committee that investigated the award of contract for the installation of $470 million CCTV chaired by Mr. Ahmed Yerima (APC, Bauchi), the lawmakers rejected calls to privatize the National Public Security Communications System (NPSCS).

Stressing the need to cede the facility to the NSA’s office, the lawmakers maintained that it behooves on the NSA’s office to set up a department that would coordinate the activities of NPSCS.

The House further recommended that the commercialized excess capacity of the network be sold to operators and that the revenue derived be used to defray the cost of maintaining and operating the network.

They also directed that all military and paramilitary agencies as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), electricity generation and distribution companies, among others should utilize the NPSCS network.

They also said that ZTE Nigeria Limited, the company operating the CCTV systems, should refund the discrepancy amount certified after an audit exercise, or better still, it should supply necessary equipment worth the amount else government should deduct same from the $20.247 million outstanding.

Additionally, the House said a forensic audit of the outstanding debt of ZTE be conducted so that the actual amount could be verified and that it should be paid based on the exchange rate obtainable in 2013, when the contract was signed.

The lawmakers also advised that the number of cameras should be increased and those vandalized be replaced, saying the geographical coverage of the cameras should be expanded to increase surveillance and security in the country.

The lawmakers also said the federal government should cancel its engagement with Netlink Broadband Networks and that the disengagement of BCTEK Engineering Limited from the contract should be investigated by relevant security agencies.

The House also said the former permanent secretary in the defunct ministry of police affairs, Mr. James Obeigbu, should be prosecuted for deliberately refusing to release the approved N3 billion meant for network operations and maintenance.