FG approves N1bn for lie detector equipment, night vision goggles for NDLEA

By Cross Udo
The Federal Government yesterday approved the procurement of lie detectors and digital night vision goggles for the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enhance their performance.

At its weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), the council also approved various contracts for the award of projects under the Ministries of Works and Housing; Industry, Trade, and Investments, and Justice with a combined worth of over N33.812billion.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, explained the rationale behind the approval of the lie detector and digital night vision goggles for the NDLEA.

He said, “Two memos were presented this afternoon by the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf and at the instance of national drugs, law enforcement agency. As you rightly know, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency is an agency of the 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 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 a contract for the supply of an eye-scanning lie detector. Our technology has improved to the extent that we have in place technological equipment that has the capacity to detect whether you are indeed speaking the truth or indeed you are lying in the course of the investigation.

“So, to enhance 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.

“So, the memo in that respect was presented, it was taken and the contract was approved for MESSR Zettabytes Technologies Limited to procure for the agency these lie detector equipment. So eventually, on that account, the Federal Council approved the award of contract for the supply of eye-scanning lie detector by the National Drugs Law enforcement agency in favour of my MESSR Zettabytes Technologies Limited in the sum of N498.85m only, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of 90 days. That was the first memo that was taken.

“And the second memo is a memo by which the NDLEA through the Office of the Attorney General seeks approval of the council with the award for the supply of digital night vision goggle to the NDLEA, this is an equally additional technological device that is intended to support the night operations of NDLEA given its capacity to support visibility for the NDLEA.

“So, the contract too was presented for consideration of the council and the council had graciously approved the award of the contract with the supply of digital night vision goggles by the national drug law enforcement agency in favour of MESSRS R-SET Integrated solution limited in the sum of N570.82m only, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of weeks. That is from the office of the attorney general at the instance of the national drug law enforcement agency.”

Also, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said that he presented two memoranda on behalf of his ministry which was approved and that the first memo was for the augmentation of the contract of the Zaria-Funtua section of the Zaria-Sokoto-Birnin-Kebbi highway.

He explained that the augmentation was for N9.446bn, an increase, which brings the contract price to a total of N16.924bn.

The Minister said that the second memorandum was presented on behalf of one of the parastatals in his ministry, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which has statutory responsibility for the maintenance and rehabilitation of certain roads.

He said FERMA requested and council approved contracts to award to rehabilitate Kwara-Peta-Milda road in Borno in favour of Messrs. CBC Global Civil Engineering and Building Construction. The value of the award is N6.271bn.

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Fashola said the council approved the rehabilitation of the Uturu-Isikwuato-Akara Road in Abia State at the cost of N13.62bn, to 18th Engineering Company for 24 months.

On his part, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investments, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, said the council approved contracts for infrastructure in one of the six special economic zones that the Export Processing Zones Authority is creating for the special economic zones in Lekki.

The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority is a parastatal under the ministry.

He said, “As part of that special economic zone, there is a textile and garment part that is being put up and Council approved contract for the development of an initial five-megawatt power plant and electrical reticulation within the park, in favour of Messrs. Mustra Energy Limited, in the sum of N1.5bn, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a delivery period of 52 weeks.

“Council also approved the construction of an access road, with associated drainage works from the Lekki-Epe Expressway, through the textile and garment park, in favour of Messrs. Proportion Construction Works Limited, in the sum of N1.9bn, inclusive of 7.5 VAT, with a delivery period of 52 weeks.”