The management of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has denied the story that it requested to buy sniffer dogs in its 2023 budget proposal.
NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Saturday in Abuja that the Agency’s Chairman, retired Gen. Buba Marwa only spoke about dogs while defending the agency’s 2023 budget proposal.
He added that Marwa spoke about dogs while responding to a question posed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Hon. Francis Agbo at the budget defence.
He stated that the chairman only spoke about the prohibitive cost of specialised dogs, adding that the question centered on the need for sniffer dogs at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Marwa defended NDLEA’s 2023 budget before the committee on Nov. 4
Babafemi explained that in response to Agbo’s question, Marwa noted that the total package of getting a specialised dog including its training, costs an average of 15,000 dollars to 20,000 dollars.
He quoted Marwa as telling the committee that the specialised dogs are able to detect up to 70 different types of drugs and substances.
Marwa said the cost could be verified openly online by anyone interested in knowing the facts about the dogs.