Nigeria will spend N658.7 million to buy sniffer dogs in Abuja and Lagos airports, according to aviation minister Hadi Sirika.
Sirika made this known at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
He said the FEC approved the award of contract for the deployment of sniffer dogs canine at the two leading airports.
“The total contract sum for this procurement is N658,762,783.36 which includes seven and a half per cent VAT,” he said.
An online post says it can cost as much as $20,000 to train a sniffer dog from puppyhood to adulthood to do the airport job.
In all, Sirika said FEC approved N16.6 billion for the execution of four projects by his ministry across the country.
According to him, the other projects to be executed in the contracts include construction of Wachakal Airport in Yobe at N6.3 billion; post construction services for the same airport at the cost of N219.8 million and procurement of eight airport rescue and firefighting vehicles at the cost of N9.5 billion.
“FEC approved four memoranda for ministry of aviation, and one of which is approval for the construction of Wachakal Airport in Yobe State at the contract sum of N6,284,065,056.
“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 civilisation, 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 strip which is very close to Nguru in Yobe state.
“So, first Consultancy Services is given to Kafe Engineering at the sum of N219,782,500 only. This will include seven and a half per cent VAT,” said Sirika.
The third memorandum that was taken for approval, he added, was for the supply and maintenance of eight units of airport rescue and firefighting vehicles including spare parts and training.
“And this was given to Messers Gulf of Africa International Ltd., the exclusive representatives of the OEM and the OEMs are Emirate firefighting equipment factory, this is in the sum of N9,535,132,500.
“This also will include seven and a half per cent and delivery period for this procurement is 12 months.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, also revealed that the Council approved N2.7 billion for the construction of facilities, including hostel at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta.
