The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N580.5 million for procuring four armoured vehicles to fight dangerous and illicit drugs by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the council’s meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

“Today, 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 (NDLEA).

“The purpose of the memo was to seek approval of the council for the award of contract for the supply of four customised armoured security vehicles of 14 seater model for the NDLEA.

“The contract sum is N580,500,000 only inclusive of 7.5 percent value-added tax with a delivery period of 16 weeks.”

The minister said the decision to procure the armoured vehicles was taken to encourage and safeguard the lives of NDLEA personnel.

“They have been recording an extraordinary or unprecedented success. Recently, they seized about 1.8 tons of cocaine, having a market value of about N194 billion.

“So, with all these successes recorded, it is only logical that the criminals and their syndicate are now devising means, including attacks on NDLEA personnel.

“It is with that in mind that the memo was presented for the procurement of such vehicles for the NDLEA, and the council approved,” he said.

According to him, between January and July 2022, the NDLEA arrested 18,940 suspects with 2,904 convictions.

(NAN)