Investigation: Police Surveillance Technology Abandoned Despite Billions in Spending

Nigeria’s investment in security technology is under scrutiny following revelations that surveillance infrastructure installed across the country has deteriorated or been abandoned despite billions of naira allocated to policing technology over the past six years.
A BusinessDay Investigations report by Sodiq Ojuroungbe found that the Federal Government spent $470 million on a nationwide public security communications project awarded to Chinese technology firm ZTE in 2010, while an additional ₦2.89 billion was reportedly allocated to police technology projects over six years.
The $470 million project was designed to provide surveillance cameras, communication networks, emergency response systems and command-and-control facilities in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja.
However, investigations at several locations in Lagos revealed damaged equipment cabinets, exposed cables, missing components and surveillance installations reportedly left without maintenance for years.
The report cited the case of Freda Arnong, a Ghanaian resident in Abuja, who died after being attacked by suspected one-chance criminals in July 2025. It raised questions about the failure of security infrastructure that could potentially have helped track her journey.
Despite the condition of existing facilities, government budgets continue to make provisions for security technology, including more than ₦516 million for Smart E-Policing Infrastructure in the 2025 executive budget proposal.
The investigation raises concerns about public spending, project monitoring, maintenance and accountability, as Nigerians continue to face kidnapping, violent crime and insecurity.