TheCable

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved N805 million for the procurement of equipment to enhance security at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, announced the development while addressing journalists after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.

The FEC meeting was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Mohammed, there is a need to improve security at the EFCC headquarters in the light of the attacks on government buildings across the country.

He added that the council approved another memo for the purchase of vehicles for officials of the federal civil service commission.

“I have two memos presented in the name of Mr. President. The first was a memo seeking approval of council for the enhancement of security at the newly completed premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters located at Jabi,” Mohammed said.

“You will recall that from 2011 upwards, there have been various attacks on federal government institutions and even multilateral institutions like the United Nations’ building. Consequent upon those attacks in 2011, 2014, 2018, the federal government set up what is called the vulnerability assessment committee to see how we can better protect ministries, departments and agencies.

“It’s in line with this that the EFCC, today, presented to council a memo seeking approval for the procurement of four sets of automatic and static anti-crush boulder system, with automatic vehicle scanners and other accessors, linear metre perimeter fencing, intrusion detection system and human screening equipment, four walk-through metal detectors, two handheld metal scanners, one luggage scanner, and three handheld explosive trace detectors, all at the value of N805,738,541.95, inclusive of the 7.5 percent VAT, with the completion period of 12 weeks. The memo was approved by council.

“The second memo, which Mr. President presented today, is a memo seeking council’s approval for the procurement of 16 vehicles for the use of the federal civil service commission.

“You know we have 16 members of the FCC — the chairman and 15 commissioners representing the states and they normally embark on extensive advocacy visits and team oversight functions to ministries, departments and agencies across the country.

“So, they asked for replacement of the old unserviceable vehicles and the council duly approved the purchase of one Toyota Landcruiser V8 and 15 Toyota Rush, all at a total of N336,216,198.”