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By Gloria Ikibah

The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has stressed that sustainable democracy across West Africa depends largely on building an educated and skilled population.

The Director-General stated this at the 2026 Voice of Nigeria Forum in Abuja, held to commemorate the 51st anniversary of ECOWAS, where he highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing role in supporting stability across the sub-region.

Yakub praised the vision of early African leaders, particularly General Yakubu Gowon, whose efforts led to the creation of ECOWAS under the Lagos Accord. He also commended the organisers of the forum for sustaining a platform that encourages policy dialogue and reflection on regional progress.

Represented by his Media Assistant, Nkem Anyatta-Lafia, the NTAC chief said the forum’s theme aligns closely with the agency’s mission of promoting education, empowerment and skills transfer across member states.

He said: “It is a profound honour to stand before this distinguished assembly of thinkers, policymakers, and patriots as we reflect on a milestone that is as much about our shared history as it is about our collective future.

“For over five decades—nearly four of which NTAC has been in existence—Nigeria has played a leading role in the sub-region, not only through economic and military support but also through the strategic deployment of soft power and human capital development.”

He emphasised that democracy extends beyond elections, pointing instead to the importance of strong institutions and human capacity.

“For nearly 40 years, NTAC Volunteers—comprising doctors, engineers, teachers, and legal professionals—have advanced these ideals across Africa, the Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. They serve as Nigeria’s peace ambassadors, strengthening the social and technical foundations of partner nations”, he stated.

Yakub also linked instability in parts of the region to poverty and limited technical capacity, noting that NTAC’s interventions are designed to build resilience and support governance.

Highlighting the agency’s impact, he revealed that more than 11,000 Nigerian professionals have been deployed to over 40 countries in the past four decades, contributing to development efforts under Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities.

“This is the mandate NTAC continues to pursue in strengthening Nigeria’s global partnerships and reinforcing its leadership role in Africa and beyond,” he added.

He therefore urged continued collaboration among stakeholders to tackle emerging threats to democracy, while applauding the Voice of Nigeria for promoting meaningful regional conversations.

The event drew a wide range of dignitaries, including senior government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and top military officers.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expelled several prominent members of the party, including a sitting lawmaker, during its national convention held on Tuesday.

Among those affected are Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives; Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party; Kenneth Ehiator; Stella Chukwu; and Elias Adiukwu.

The expulsions were carried out by a faction of the party loyal to former Senate President David Mark, signaling deepening internal divisions within the ADC.

According to proceedings at the convention, the decision to expel the members was formally presented before party delegates for approval.

The motion for their expulsion was moved by Binos Yaroe, who represents Adamawa South in the Senate.

While details surrounding the reasons for the expulsions were not immediately disclosed, the development is expected to intensify the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.

The move underscores growing tensions between rival factions in the ADC, as the party continues to grapple with internal disagreements ahead of future political contests.

Efforts to reach the flushed out members for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately stop further payments to ZTE Corporation until clear explanations are provided on the execution of a controversial $460 million CCTV surveillance project.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion presented during an investigative hearing by the Ad-Hoc Committee probing the $460 million Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance project in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday in Abuja..

Lawmakers voiced strong frustration over what they described as unclear and inconsistent responses from company representatives, particularly on key issues such as where the systems were installed, how they were deployed and whether they are still functioning.

As part of its resolution, the committee directed ZTE to return with detailed and verifiable records, including a full inventory of equipment supplied, exact installation locations across the country and the identities of hundreds of Nigerians reportedly trained to manage the system.

Opening the session, Committee Chairman Rep. Donald Ojogo stressed that the probe was aimed at uncovering facts rather than targeting individuals.

“This is a constructive engagement, not an attempt to witch-hunt anyone. Nigerians deserve clear answers, and we expect ZTE to respond in line with the documents before us,” he said.

Also during the hearing, ZTE’s representative, Irene Momoh, stated that the company completed installation of CCTV infrastructure in Abuja and Lagos between 2011 and 2012.

However, she admitted that the current state of the system could not be confirmed.

“To the best of our knowledge, the equipment was delivered and installed within the project timeline, but I cannot confirm its present operational status,” she said.

The admission drew sharp reactions from lawmakers, who questioned how such a high-value project could lack a clear maintenance structure.

Momoh explained that the company initially handled maintenance for three months and later extended it to six months before handing the system over to the government. She suggested that the decline in performance was linked to a lack of sustained funding after the handover.

The committee’s intervention signals mounting pressure for transparency and accountability in the handling of major public infrastructure projects.

“There was no continued funding from the government to maintain and run the system after handover,” he added.

Despite this explanation, lawmakers challenged several of the company’s claims, particularly on the geographical spread of the installations.

Citing documents from the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, Iyawe Esosa disputed ZTE’s assertion that installations were limited to Abuja and Lagos.

“Official records indicate installations in Edo State. As someone who lives in Benin City, I can confidently say these facilities do not exist in the listed locations,” he said.

Momoh insisted that all components listed in the Bill of Quantities were fully delivered and installed in line with the terms of the contract.

However, Rep. Kolawale Akinlayo strongly disputed claims that any installations were carried out in Ekiti State, maintaining that there was no visible evidence to support such assertions.

“None of the locations listed, including Ado-Ekiti, has any of these facilities. Outside Lagos, there is no visible deployment in the South-West,” he said.

The hearing grew more tense when Momoh explained that his limited responses were due to the fact that he only took up his role in 2023, adding that several officials who handled the original contract were no longer with the company.

Lawmakers were unimpressed, interpreting the explanation as an attempt to sidestep accountability and warning that the matter could be escalated to the Nigerian Bar Association for possible disciplinary action.

A representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Josiah Okike, advised that any directive on payments should be channelled through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure proper execution.

He also revealed that, as of March 2026, ZTE was still expecting a payment of 15.37 million dollars under the loan repayment arrangement.

The committee resolved to summon the company again, demanding concrete documentation to confirm the handover of the project, including details of the government agencies that took over responsibility for the infrastructure.

The CCTV surveillance project, launched during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was conceived as a major step towards strengthening urban security through modern technology.

Funded through a loan agreement with the Chinese government and implemented by ZTE Corporation, the project was designed to install extensive camera networks across key cities such as Abuja and Lagos, backed by centralised command systems to support law enforcement operations.

Although initially presented as a breakthrough in tackling security threats such as terrorism, kidnapping and urban crime, the initiative has remained mired in controversy. Years after completion, doubts continue to surround its visibility, effectiveness and overall contribution to national security.

Successive governments have faced criticism over the failure to sustain the system, with persistent issues including inadequate maintenance, limited technical expertise, funding shortfalls and questions over contract execution.

The ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives reflects renewed efforts to uncover the fate of what lawmakers consider a major public investment that has yet to deliver meaningful results.