The Federal Government says it has approved N1.06 billion for the procurement of lie detectors and digital night vision goggles for the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials to enhance their performance.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual FEC meeting on Wednesday.
He said the lie detectors and digital night vision goggles would assist the NDLEA in the course of their investigation.
Malami told reporters: “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 Drug Law Enforcement Agency is an agency of the government saddled with the responsibility of exterminating illicit drug trafficking, sales and consumption.
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“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 added 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 contract for the supply of eye-scanning lie detector.
“Our technology has improved to the extent that we have in place technological equipment that have the capacity to detect whether you are indeed speaking the truth or indeed you are lying in the course of investigation.
“So, for the purpose of enhancing 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.
“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 in favour of MESSR Zettabytes Technologies Limited in the sum of N498,850,000 only, inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a completion period of 90 days.”
According to the justice minister, the second memo sought the approval of the council for the award contract for the supply of digital night vision goggle.
Malami said the device would aid the night operations of NDLEA.
“The supply of digital night vision goggles is in favor of MESSRS R-SET Integrated solution Ltd for the sum of N570.8 million only, inclusive of 7.5% Value Added Tax with completion period of weeks.”
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