Marwa-led NDLEA to build personnel barracks as FEC approves N4b

History is set to be made by President Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa as their administration and sub-administration will be remembered to have approved required fund and initiated, respectively, the building of befitting barracks for personnel of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria.

This was as the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday March 23, 2023, approved over N4 billion for the construction of barracks to accommodate the NDLEA’s personnel.

Disclosing this in a briefing with pressmen after the FEC meeting, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the project became necessary because of the “unprecedented” threats and attacks on personnel, officers, men and other ranks of the agency.

“What was presented today by the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice is a council memo at the instance of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). As you are aware, there is a renewed and sustained onslaught against drug cartels and barons overtime.

“Within the three months of 2023, about 18,940 arrests were affected by the NDLEA and drugs with estimated value of over N40 billion naira were confiscated. Again, about 2,904 convictions were recorded. These successes that were recorded unfortunately translated to unprecedented threats and attacks on personnel, officers, men and other ranks of the agency.

“And then the need has arisen for the Federal Government to consider the possibility of security measures that will now provide the prerequisite protection to the officers and men of the agency for commission,” he stated.

According to Malami, two contracts were awarded to two companies to carry out the project. They are Wizchino Engineering Limited and JP Sigma Nigeria Limited.

He said the blocks which consist of many flats, cost N2.2 billion to the first contractor and the sum of N2.8 billion to the second contractor.