Emmanuel OchayiFEC Boosting Anti-Narcotics Operations
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $1.442 billion for the procurement of arms, ammunition, and equipment to enhance the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) anti-narcotics operations.
This announcement, was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, after the Council met at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
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“This investment is crucial for the NDLEA to effectively combat drug trafficking and abuse across the nation,” Fagbemi stated. “The Council approved the procurement of arms, ammunition, and anti-riot equipment for the NDLEA at a cost of $1.44 billion.”
The FEC meeting, the 12th in the Bola Tinubu administration, saw the Council considering three important memoranda related to the NDLEA. In addition to the arms procurement, the Council approved N1.9 billion for the purchase of 33 CNG-compliant vehicles to support the agency’s operations.
“We discussed some other items today, including three concerning the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, otherwise known as NDLEA. The first one is the procurement of 33 Mikano Maxus E60 motor vehicles to boost the operation of the NDLEA at N1.9 billion,” Fagbemi detailed.
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FEC Enhancing Airport Security
Moreover, the FEC Council approved N985 million for two full-body scanners to be installed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Abuja. This measure aims to strengthen the NDLEA’s capabilities at these critical entry and exit points.
“The third in the series is the procurement of two units of full-body scanners at Abuja and Lagos international airports, to boost the operation of the NDLEA. This is at a cost of N985 million,” Fagbemi said.
Environmental Measures
In a related development, the Council approved a ban on the use of single-use plastics in all Federal Ggovernment ministries, agencies, and departments. This initiative aligns with the 2022 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, aiming to tackle the challenges of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
FEC Bans on Single-Use Plastics
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, who also briefed the State House Correspondents, explained the importance of this move.
“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to addressing the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” he said. “Plastic pollution is a major issue in our country.”
The ban, which currently applies only to Federal Government institutions, is a precursor to a nationwide ban on single-use plastics by January 2025.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment proposed and the Federal Executive Council approved that a ban be placed on the use of on-the-go plastics, what we know as single-use plastics, in all ministries, agencies, and departments of the federal governments,” Salako added.
Nationwide Ban in 2025
Salako emphasised that this federal ban is a step towards a broader national policy. “The ban is for Federal Government ministries, agencies, and departments; it is not nationwide.
However, this is, in a way, preparatory; if you look at the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which was adopted in 2022, it envisaged that by January 2025, some categories of plastics would be banned in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that this federal initiative aims to lead by example, encouraging broader compliance and awareness among the public.
“When you see this being done in federal ministries and agencies, it will convince you that it is possible; as a matter of fact, I can tell you that in the Federal Ministry of Environment, we started the ban in January 2024,” Salako concluded.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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