Reps committee query Rivers Administrator Ibas over N24bn CCTV

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State has questioned the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), over allocated N24bn budget for CCTV

During a budget defence session at the National Assembly in Abuja, the committee, led by House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, raised concerns about specific expenditures that appeared questionable.

In a statement issued by House spokesman Akin Rotimi on Monday night, the committee identified several grey areas, including N24 billion allocated for CCTV installation at the Rivers State Government House, N30 billion for the purchase of gunboats, and N23 billion listed under a contingency fund without detailed explanation.

The committee also criticised the state government for funding federal projects without prior agreement or expectation of reimbursement, stressing that such spending requires proper legal backing and justification to ensure fiscal responsibility.

The Rivers State Government was given 48 hours to provide a detailed breakdown and justification for the highlighted expenses, submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, disclose the management framework of local government funds, and present records of financial transfers to all 23 local government areas. The committee also requested documents related to the Airforce Base Agreement mentioned during the presentation.

Ihonvbere reiterated the committee’s role in ensuring accountability and protecting the interests of all citizens in Rivers State, regardless of their location. He assured the delegation that the National Assembly was committed to transparency and responsible governance.

Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, Andrew Nweke, said many of the budget items were inherited and based on assessments by implementation agencies.

He explained that the N30 billion for gunboats was meant to support security operations in the waterways, the N23 billion contingency fund was for emergencies such as flooding, and the N24 billion CCTV installation was necessary to upgrade surveillance infrastructure at the Government House.

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