The Federal Government has approved an allocation of $1.442 million for the procurement of arms and ammunition to bolster the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s counter-narcotics operations.
This decision was announced following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, briefed newsmen on the approvals. He noted that his ministry had submitted three memoranda on behalf of the NDLEA, which also included the approval of N1.9 billion for the purchase of 33 CNG-compliant vehicles and N985 million for the procurement of two full-body scanners for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Supporting NDLEA’s Operations
Fagbemi emphasized the critical need to support the NDLEA’s efforts, stating, “The first one is the procurement of 33 Mikano Maxus E60 motor vehicles to boost the operation of the NDLEA at N1.9 billion. It is important that we give support to the activities of NDLEA, so the Council considered this and gave approval for the purchase of 33 Mikano vehicles, all of which are CNG compliant.”
He highlighted that the approval of $1.442 million for arms and ammunition is aimed at significantly enhancing the NDLEA’s capacity to combat drug trafficking and related crimes effectively. “The second approval is for the procurement of arms, ammunition, and anti-riot equipment for counter-narcotics operations for the NDLEA, totaling $1.442 million.”
Enhancing Airport Security
The FEC’s decision to invest N985 million in full-body scanners at the country’s two busiest airports underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing security measures and curbing drug smuggling through international gateways. “The third approval is for the procurement of two units of full-body scanners at both Abuja and Lagos international airports to boost the NDLEA’s operations, at a cost of N985 million,” the minister added.
These approvals reflect the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to support the NDLEA in its mission to combat drug trafficking and enhance overall security within the nation.
