Anti-smuggling : Customs Secures FG’s Approval To Purchase N3.4 Billion Surveillance Aircraft

Nigeria Customs Service secures FG’s approval to purchase N3.4 billion Surveillance aircraft.

The surveillance aircraft expected to aid Customs operations, especially in the fight against smuggling.

The Cessna Caravan surveillance aircraft cost N3,447,442,710 inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a delivery period of 12 months.

Finance Minister also announced the approval of procurement of 192 vehicles for Operations and Administrative purposes.

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N3.4 billion for the procurement of surveillance aircraft for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to aid its operations, especially in the fight against smuggling.

The approval, which was granted by the Federal Executive Council, was announced by Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.

Speaking to Journalists after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Agba stated that, the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning presented a couple of memos for which approvals were obtained.

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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.

In the same vein, the Federal Executive Council, FEC approved the E-Customs Modernisation project.

“The Council approved the implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation project to a concessionaire,” he noted.

The Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, had earlier announced the approval of three major contracts for the Nigeria Customs Service worth over N20 billion. These includes the construction of blocks of flats in Abuja and procurement of 192 vehicles for Operations and Administrative purposes.

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