The Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday approved N580.50 million for the purchase of four armored vehicles for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Infinity Tyres

Attorney-General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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The AGF cited the recent feat by the agency when it busted a drug racket in Lagos, recovering N194bn worth of cocaine from an Ikorodu warehouse.

He noted that the recent gains in the war on drugs would prompt reprisal attacks on NDLEA from drug barons, hence the need for the vehicles.

He also said the federal government was “very happy” with the successes being recorded by the NDLEA whereby it arrested 18,940 suspects and secured 2,904 convictions between January and July 2022.

Describing the development in detail, Malami said the 14-seater vehicles would take 16 weeks to deliver in January 2023.

He said:  “Today (yesterday), a memo was presented by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, that is the Federal Ministry of Justice, which was relating to a parastatal under the supervision of the office of the Attorney General; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

“The purpose of the memo was to seek approval of the council for the award of contract for the supply of four customized armored security vehicles of 14 seater model for the NDLEA and the contract sum is N580,500,000 only inclusive of 7.5 percent value-added tax with a delivery period of 16 weeks.”

He said:  “Today (yesterday), a memo was presented by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, that is the Federal Ministry of Justice, which was relating to a parastatal under the supervision of the office of the Attorney General; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

“The purpose of the memo was to seek approval of the council for the award of contract for the supply of four customized armored security vehicles of 14 seater model for the NDLEA and the contract sum is N580,500,000 only inclusive of 7.5 percent value-added tax with a delivery period of 16 weeks.”