In a historic move, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has officially established two new forensic laboratories in Abuja and Enugu, breaking a 25-year reliance on a single facility in Lagos. This significant development comes in response to an alarming increase in drug seizures across the country, aimed at enhancing accessibility and expediting forensic analysis to bolster prosecutions.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, expressed enthusiasm about the new facilities, stating, “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.” The new laboratories are equipped with cutting-edge technology that meets the highest safety and quality standards.
In addition to the newly established labs, the Lagos facility has also undergone extensive refurbishment, transforming it into a state-of-the-art center for forensic analysis. This project was supported by the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and executed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As part of this initiative, the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), has trained and certified 20 forensic analysts. This training empowers them to sign off on drug analysis reports, enhancing the agency’s forensic capabilities further. The NDLEA has also implemented robust quality control measures following participation in the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) program, which ensures the accuracy and reliability of forensic results.
Marwa lauded the dedicated effort of officers from the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring in achieving this milestone, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to modernizing its capabilities in the face of evolving drug-related challenges, including emerging new psychoactive substances.
In a further boost, the US-INL has donated advanced forensic equipment to the Lagos lab, enhancing its capacity for detecting and analyzing suspicious substances. The donation was presented by INL Director in Nigeria, Ms. Candace Spradley, who praised the cooperative efforts between the NDLEA and INL.
This collaborative achievement marks a crucial step forward in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking and substance abuse, promising a more efficient and effective response to these pressing issues.