Analyst Condemns National Assembly’s Investigation of Jonathan-Era CCTV Loan as Politically Driven
Story: Written by Uzuh Rita October 24,2025
Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has sharply criticized the National Assembly for reopening an inquiry into the $460 million Chinese facility secured under former President Goodluck Jonathan for the Abuja metropolitan CCTV infrastructure. Shehu asserted that the decision reflects political opportunism rather than genuine accountability.
In remarks posted on X on Thursday, Shehu described the initiative as an ill-conceived display driven by partisan motives, warning that legislators risk public embarrassment by pursuing what he called a fruitless and misguided spectacle.
He argued that returning to a project approved over ten years ago demonstrates what he labeled a level of shamelessness and a reckless descent into damaging political gamesmanship.
According to Shehu, Jonathan has now been framed as a political obstacle ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite uncertainties about the future.
Shehu emphasized that the CCTV loan was legitimately processed through proper legislative channels during the Jonathan administration. He contrasted this with borrowing under subsequent governments, claiming that those debts escalated dramatically without proportional scrutiny.
He highlighted fiscal records to support his claim. Jonathan, he said, left public debt around N12 trillion. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari, that figure rose to approximately N77 trillion. Shehu further alleged that borrowing under President Bola Tinubu has climbed to about N144 trillion, with more anticipated.
The analyst accused the legislature of selective oversight. He questioned why far more contentious financial decisions from later administrations remain untouched, including Buhari’s N30 trillion “Ways and Means” advances, which he argued were obtained without transparent legislative review.
Shehu claimed that loans attributed to the current administration have ballooned toward N150 trillion without a parallel audit, while allegations of N7 trillion padding in the 2025 budget and N10.5 trillion constituency projects have not received the same level of attention.
He referenced other unresolved matters, including alleged missing revenues of N210 trillion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited between 2017 and 2023, and $7 billion intended for refinery rehabilitation that has yet to be accounted for.
Shehu also cited recent statements by the Minister of Finance regarding the disbursement of N330 billion to vulnerable Nigerians, asserting that no verifiable documentation has been provided to validate the claim.
The commentator lamented the legislature’s perceived indifference to rising poverty and nationwide hardship. He noted that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with deprivation, malnutrition, and a collapsing education and health system, while legislators prioritize political targets rather than national welfare.
He reminded lawmakers that victims of economic and social injustice are increasingly vocal, and warned that accountability could come at a time when remorse carries no reward.
Shehu concluded by pointing to another stalled matter. Nigerians, he said, still anticipate a public hearing on the findings of a central bank investigation conducted by former Anambra State Secretary to the Government, Oseloka Obaze.
