The House of Representatives has ordered that a $40 million (N6 billion) internet surveillance contract awarded secretly by the Nigerian government to an Israeli firm, be immediately suspended.
In a resolution approved Thursday, the House said no further action should be taken on the controversial spy project, which has generated widespread fury and condemnation, until three of its committees complete an investigation in three weeks.
The top secret project, was awarded by the Jonathan administration to Elbit Systems, an Israeli Info tech firm, to spy on millions of Nigerian internet users; which is put at over 47 million. The move was viewed as an act of desperation by a government which is increasingly frustrated by the unrestrained use of the internet to attack government officials and policies.
But the authorities, who have maintained a studied silence since the clandestine project became public knowledge, passed it off as an intelligence gathering effort in the face of growing insecurity and fundamentalist threat.
In a motion moved by Ibrahim Gusau, the House said the project will infringe on the privacy of Nigerians and argued that the so-called intelligence gathering, “may not be the solution” to the nation’s security woes.
The House also frowned at the secrecy surrounding the contract award, which lawmakers agreed contravened federal financial regulations relating to contract awards, as stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
Three committees, namely, Information and Computer Technology, Human Rights, and National Security, are to conduct inquiry into the project and make its findings known in three weeks.
More details later…
See these fools in the house, wthey are turning Nigeria to Boys Scount Company. Every nation in the world have internet security, but in Nigeria everything is poilitics. Tambuwal thinks by being antagonist with every move the President is making will endear him to Nigeria. He and his cohorts are living in fools paradise. Afterward the executive doesn’t ake order from them.
What is the problem with aminu tambowa he should stop fooling him self bcos he cannot stop the GOD blessed president jonathan . Tambowa should stop makeing noise in every developmental project the presedency is doing we all no that he his fighting a northan agenda.(BOKOHARAM is a faild project TAMBO)