The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Tuesday approved N1.99b for the purchase of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicles and $1.442 million for arms and ammunition by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Also okayed by the council were N985m for body scanners to be installed at the nation’s busiest airports – the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
To demonstrate government’s commitment to checking the effects of climate change and pollution, FEC lent its weight to the ban on disposable plastics, also known as on-the-go plastics, in all federal ministries, agencies, and departments nationwide.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, and Minister of State for Environment Iziak Salako made these known to reporters after yesterday’s FEC meeting in Abuja.
Fagbemi explained that the approvals of the sums were to enable NDLEA to rev up its anti-narcotics operations.
He said: “We discussed some other items today (yesterday), three items in respect of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, otherwise known as NDLEA. The first one is the procurement of 33 Mikano Maxus E60 motor vehicles to boost the operation of the NDLEA at N1.99 billion.
“You will agree with me that it is important that we give support to the activities of NDLEA so the council considered this and gave approval for the purchase of 33 Mikano vehicles and they are all CNG compliant.
“The second one is, again, a purchase for the NDLEA. This time is for the procurement of arms, ammunition, and antiriot equipment for counter-narcotics operations for the NDLEA. This is for the sum of $1.442 million.
“The third in the series is the procurement of two units of full body scanners at both Abuja and Lagos international airports to boost the operation of the NDLEA. This is at a cost of N985 million.”
Minister of State for Environment Salako explained that the ban on single-use plastics at federal MDAs was in line with the 2022 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.
According to the minister, the ban is to reduce plastic waste, which is a significant contributor to flooding, ocean pollution, and human health issues.
He said: “The Federal Ministry of Environment proposed and the Federal Executive Council approved that a ban be placed on the use of on-the-go plastics, what we know as single-use plastics, in all ministries, agencies and departments of the federal governments. This is in line with the 2022 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.
We must say that the discussion in EXCO was very smooth because all members of EXCO, including Mr President were very enthusiastic about this ban. This ban is also in line with the commitment of Mr. President to ensure that Nigeria plays its part in ensuring that the triple crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is frontally addressed.
“As you know, plastic is one of the key challenges that we face when we go to our drains and when we talk about the issue of flooding, we find out that plastic waste is heavily incriminated. We also find out that plastic pollution is a major issue in our oceans, is a major issue affecting human health affecting our environment.
While the ban is currently limited to federal government institutions, it is seen as a precursor to a nationwide ban on single-use plastics by January 2025, as outlined in the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.
“First, let me just say categorically, again, for purposes of clarity. The ban is for federal government ministries, agencies, and departments, it is not nationwide. However, this is, in a way preparatory, if you look at the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which was adopted in 2022, it envisaged that by January 2025, some categories of plastics will be banned in Nigeria and most of them are single-use; plastic spools, straws, PET bottles, pure water sachets, and so on.’’