By 
By Marozoka Oruame
The Nigerian government has approved Zettabytes Technologies Limited to supply eye-scanning lie detector valued at over N498 million and R-SET Integrated Solution Limited to supply digital night vision googles worth N570,825 million allowing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify the war against drug barons.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), Nigeria’s highest decision-making body, approved about N1.06 billion for the entire project, Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, told the media in Abuja on Wednesday after the Council meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
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An eye-scanning lie detector is a revolutionized truth-telling technology much advanced that the traditional polygraph. The digital technology tells if a person is lying by tracking their eye movements. EyeDetect, one of its latest variants. is an advanced technology that measures bio-cognitive responses in the eye to determine deception or lies. It responds to eye movement, changes in pupil diameter, blinks, and fixations that typically signify stress.
EyeDetect technology, or eye-scanning lie detector, has won its supporters in the field. Law-enforcement agents laud the system as smoother than a traditional polygraph.
EyeDetect has an accuracy rating of up to 90% and according to the American Polygraph Association (APA) polygraphs have an accuracy rating of 83%, when done correctly.
A worrying spike in local illicit drug use and increasing fear of Nigeria becoming a major transit route has forced authorities in Abuja to deploy a more determined approach to taming drug barons.
“Arising from the fact that they have been doing wonderfully well, in terms of dealing with the scourge associated with drugs, the Federal Government has considered the possibility of making added provisions and employing and deploying technological equipment, skills and competencies that will assist them in delivery, said Malami
Adding: “As you rightly know, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency is an agency of government, saddled with the responsibility of exterminating illicit drugs trafficking, sales and consumption.”
According to him: “Our technology has improved to the extent that we have in place technological equipment that has the capacity to detect whether you are indeed speaking the truth or indeed you are lying in the course of investigation.
Government is determined to eradicate the illicit drug scourge, Malami said. His words:
“So, for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the NDLEA in exterminating illicit drug trafficking, sales, and consumption, the Federal Government has considered the need and possibility of indeed providing this equipment to NDLEA.
“So, the memo in that respect was presented, it was taken and the contract was approved for Messrs Zettabytes Technologies Limited to procure for the agency this lie detector equipment.
“On that account, the Federal Executive Council approved the award of contract for the supply of eye-scanning lie detector by the NDLEA in favour of Messrs Zettabytes Technologies Limited in the sum of N498,850,000 only, inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a completion period of 90 days.
“The second memo sought the approval of the council for the supply of digital night vision goggles. This is intended to support the night operations of NDLEA.
“The council graciously approved the award of the contract with the supply of digital night vision goggles in favour of Messrs R-SET Integrated Solution Limited in the sum of N570,825,000 only, inclusive of 7.5% value-added tax with a completion period of weeks.”
IMAGE: VICE
