Insecurity: FG To Buy Sniffer Dogs For ₦658m

The Federal Government is set to buy sniffer dogs for ₦658 million for deployment at Lagos and Abuja International Airports.

Speaking with reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the council gave the approval during the weekly meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the minister, four memoranda were approved by the council for the ministry totalling ₦16billion.

He said the projects to be executed in the contracts include the construction of Wachakal Airport in Yobe State at ₦6.3 billion; post-construction services for the same airport at the cost of ₦219.8 million.

It also includes the procurement of eight airport rescue and firefighting vehicles at the cost of ₦9.5 billion; and a contract for the deployment of sniffer dogs to the Lagos and Abuja international airports at the cost of ₦658.8 million.

He said: “FEC approved four memoranda from civil aviation. One of it is the approval for the construction of Wachakal Airport in Yobe State and at the contract sum of ₦6,284,065,056,” he said.

“Even and in our drive to develop the sector and ensure connectivity within our region and also improve on our security architecture and also attend to the various needs of civilization, we found this airport and many others that are coming across the country useful.

“The second was a post-Consultancy Services for the construction of the same airport, Wachakal Air stripe which is very close to Nguru in Yobe state. So, first Consultancy Services is given to Kafe Engineering at the sum of ₦219,782,500 only. This will include seven and a half percent VAT.

“The third memorandum that was taken his approval for the supply and maintenance of eight units of airport rescue and firefighting vehicle including spare parts and training. And this was given to Messers Gulf of Africa International Limited.

“The exclusive representatives of the OEM and the OEMs are Emirate firefighting equipment factory, this is in the sum of ₦9,535,132,500 even. This also will include seven and a half percent and the delivery period for this procurement is 12 months.

“The last memo that was taken from aviation, it has to do with approval for the award of contract for the deployment of sniffer dogs canine in airports in Lagos and Abuja, we will be continuing with this procurement and other airports as well. So, the total contract sum for this procurement is ₦658,762,783.36 which includes seven and a half percent VAT.”