NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, in a statement sent to Persecondnews on Monday in Abuja, quoted the agency’s Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, as saying, “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.”
Marwa said that the two new facilities are set to commence operations, while the existing Lagos lab has undergone a comprehensive renovation, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility.
“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),” he said.
Besides equipping the laboratories with additional cutting-edge analytical instruments, the Agency, in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), has conducted the training and certification of 20 NDLEA forensic analysts.
This training, Marwa said, is meant to empower them to sign off on drug analysis reports, thereby enhancing the agency’s forensic capabilities.
This comes alongside the implementation of robust quality control measures following the agency’s successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC’s International Collaborative Exercise(ICE) program, part of the International Quality Assurance Programme(IQAP) that ensures quality management systems and accurate, reliable results.
Commending the officers of the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring for helping break the 25-year jinx, Marwa attributed the milestone in forensic analysis to his commitment to equipping labs with state-of-the-art instruments and developing personnel expertise, ensuring accurate analysis and tackling emerging New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) challenges.
He said: “The newly constructed drug laboratories and renovated facilities mark a significant milestone in the Agency’s history, and we are delighted about this achievement.”
Meanwhile, the US-INL has donated advanced equipment to the agency to further enhance the NDLEA’s forensic lab operations in Lagos.
The spectroscopy device was handed over by Ms. Candace Spradley, Director of INL in Nigeria, who praised the strong collaboration between NDLEA and INL.
She added that the donated equipment will boost the agency’s ability to detect and analyze suspicious substances effectively.
A team of NDLEA top officials, led by DCGN Omolade Faboyede, Director of Seaport Operations, received the US delegation and equipment at the agency’s Ikoyi Lagos headquarters annex.
Other key officials present included ACGN Patricia Afolabi (Director, Forensic and Chemical Monitoring), ACGN Rita Geh Okpere (Deputy Director, Media and Advocacy), ACGN Akinola Idowu Grace (Head, Special Operations Unit), and CN Abubakar Liman Wali (Commander, Lagos State Strategic Command), among others
