In a bid to support the fight against smuggling, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N3.4 billion for the procurement of surveillance Aircraft for the Nigeria Customs Service to aid Customs Operations.
The approval was granted in a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and announced by Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning. The approval was contained in couple of memos presented by the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning during the FEC meeting.
The first approval was for the award of a contract for the procurement of a Cessna Caravan Aircraft by the Nigeria Customs Service in the sum of N3,447,442,710 inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a delivery period of 12 months.
“This aircraft is an addition to the current fleet in the Service and it is aimed towards combating smuggling activities and enhancing intelligence gathering. It is also to provide aerial surveillance and reconnaissance for the customs across our borders,” Agba added.
Similarly, the Council approved the implementation of the E-Customs Modernisation Project to Bergman Securities Consultant as concessionaire, Suppliers limited as the project sponsor, Africa Finance Corporation UFC as the lead financier and Huawei Technologies as lead technical service provider.
