The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N1, 069,600 billion for the purchase of equipment for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting of the council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He mentioned the devices earmarked for purchase to include eye scanning lie detectors and digital night vision goggles, all in a bid to tame the activities of drug barons.
He said: “As you rightly know, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency is an agency of government, saddled with the responsibility of exterminating illicit drugs trafficking, sales and consumption. Arising from the fact that they have been doing wonderfully well, in terms of dealing with the scourge associated with drugs, the federal government has considered the possibility of making added provisions and employing and deploying technological equipment skills and competencies that will assist them in delivery.
“So, this morning, two memos were taken. One, it was a memo seeking the approval of the council for the award of contract for the supply of eye-scanning lie detector. Our technology has improved to the extent that we have in place technological equipment that have the capacity to detect whether you are indeed speaking the truth or indeed you are lying in the course of investigation.
“So, for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the NDLEA in exterminating illicit drugs trafficking, sales and consumption, the federal government has considered the need and possibility of indeed providing this equipment to NDLEA.
“Eventually, on that account, the Federal Executive Council approved the award of contract for the supply of eye-scanning lie detector by the National Drugs Law Drugs Law Enforcement Agency in the sum of N498, 850,000 only, inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a completion period of 90 days.
“The second memo is one in which the NDLEA through the Office of the Attorney General sought approval of the council with the award for the supply of digital night vision goggle to the NDLEA, this is equally additional technological device that is intended to support the night operations of NDLEA in view of its capacity to support visibility for the NDLEA.
“So the contract too was presented for consideration of the council and the council has graciously approved the award of the contract with the supply of digital night vision goggles by the council in the sum of N570,825,000 only, inclusive of 7.5% Value Added Tax with completion period of 12 weeks.”
The Minister said he had to present the memo because the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency is an agency of the government under his Ministry, saddled with the responsibility of exterminating illicit drugs trafficking, sales and consumption.
He said the NDLEA has been doing wonderfully well, in terms of dealing with the scourge associated with drugs, thus, the decision to deploy technological equipment skills and competencies that will assist them in service delivery.
