The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday approved a total sum of N580,500, 000 million for the purchase of four armoured personnel vehicles for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The approval follows the exploits by the NDLEA in bursting drug lords and cartels and also the heightened attacks on the personnel.
Beyond the approval, the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari also reviewed the successes of the agency, where it was briefed that between January and July 2022 the Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa-led agency arrested over 18,940 suspects.
He was also reported to have secured 2,904 convictions within the period, a development that has led to unprecedented reprisal attacks on its personnel.
The agency was in the news recently, when it seized cocaine with an estimated market value of about $278 million, which in Naira value translates to about N194 billion naira.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami briefed State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting, saying, “Today, a memo was presented by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Specifically the Federal Ministry of Justice. The memo is related to a parastatal under the supervision of the Office of the Attorney General, which is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“The purpose of the memo was to seek the approval of Council for the award of contract for the supply of 4 customized armoured security vehicles or 14 seater model vehicle for the NDLEA in favour of Devcom Integrity Services Limited and the contract sum of N580,500,000 only, inclusive of the 7.5 Value Added Tax.
“It has a delivery period of 16 weeks. It is common knowledge to all that in recent times the NDLEA has been repositioned and arising from the support in terms of capacity-building hardware and associated things, they have recorded an extraordinary unprecedented success.
“Of recent and still in our memory is a seizure of cocaine having a market value of about $278 million, which in Nigeria Naira translates to about N194 billion naira and in terms of volume is about 1.8 tonnes. So with all these successes recorded, it is only logical that the criminals and criminal syndicate are now devising means, inclusive of attacks on the personnel of the NDLEA.
”So it is with that in mind that a memo was presented to FEC seeking approval of the Council for the procurement of armoured vehicles for the agency.
“The memo was taken and at the end of the day, it was approved, contract for the procurement of 14 seater armoured personnel vehicles which was approved. The delivery period for the vehicles to the NDLEA is 16 weeks from today. And the company that has been granted the contract is Devcom Integrated Services Limited.
“We are happy with the successes being recorded by NDLEA for the purpose of further information. I think it is relevant to state that NDLEA has succeeded in many ways.
“Between January and July 2022 it has succeeded in arresting over 18,940 suspects. They have equally secured 2,904 convictions within the period, which has led in effect to the unprecedented reprisal attacks on officers. So with the progress being recorded, it becomes necessary that the agency be supported with armoured vehicles and Council has considered and indeed approved accordingly”.