The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has established two new forensic laboratories to enhance accessibility, expedite timely analysis, and prosecute cases efficiently.
This is after over 25 years of conducting forensic analysis in a single laboratory facility in Lagos, which also recently received an upgrade.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (rtd), while speaking on the locations of the laboratories, said the two additional laboratories built in Abuja and Enugu are strategically located and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet the highest standards of quality and safety protocols and ensure a safe working environment.
He said, “The newly constructed laboratories will enable us to enhance our forensic analysis capabilities, increase our capacity to process cases efficiently and strengthen our fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
While commending the officers, men and women of the agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring for working with him to break the over 25 years jinx, Marwa said the milestone achieved in the area of forensic analysis is borne out of his commitment to equipping the laboratories with state-of- the- art instruments and developing the expertise of the agency’s personnel to ensure accurate and reliable forensic analysis, research methodologies and tackling the challenges posed by emerging New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
“The newly constructed drug laboratories and renovated facilities mark a significant milestone in the Agency’s history, and we are delighted about this achievement”, Marwa added.
The spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said the two new facilities are set to commence operations, while the existing one in Lagos has undergone a comprehensive renovation and refurbishment, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility.
He said, “This project was made possible through the sponsorship of the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).”
Meanwhile, the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), trained and certified 20 NDLEA forensic analysts to empower them to sign off on drug analysis reports, thereby enhancing the agency’s forensic capabilities.
“This is in addition to the implementation of robust quality control measures, following the agency’s successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) programme, which is an important part of International Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) to ensure quality management systems, accuracy and reliability of results,” Babafemi stated.