Ogbodo Ozioma Favour
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the upgrade of its forensic laboratory to enhance its capacity in the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive of the Agency, Mohammed Buba Marawa, revealed that the upgraded facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art analytical equipment to improve performance and adhere to standard operational laboratory procedures and best practices.
Represented by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Obafemi, Marawa stressed the significance of modern forensic laboratories in combating illicit drugs, stating that the forensic laboratory plays a critical role in identifying drug exhibits, investigating illicit drug manufacturing, and dismantling clandestine laboratories.
He said: “The poor infrastructure of our forensic laboratory translated into inadequacy to cope with the volume of work on the ground. It is against this backdrop that INL intervened to sponsor the upgrading of the laboratory to a global standard and expand its capacity to cope with the challenging dynamics inherent in the analysis of new psychoactive substances, amphetamine-type stimulants, synthetic cannabinoids, and fentanyl opioids.”
Marawa expressed gratitude to the US government for approving funding for the project, which includes strengthening the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of NDLEA, upgrading the interrogation room, and providing an e-library for prosecution. He also commended the UNODC for its role in implementing the project.
The project includes the training of 20 NDLEA forensic analysts on drug identification and safe handling of synthetic opioids, as well as the provision of safety bags containing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and test kits for drugs and precursor chemicals. U.S. Consul General Will Stevens highlights the ongoing security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, emphasizing the need for a coordinated global response to the opioid crisis.
Danilo Campos, the UNODC Deputy Country Representative, commended the partnership with the United States INL and NDLEA, stating that the interventions have been effective in combating criminal drug trafficking networks.
He expressed optimism about the next phase of the project, which aims to consolidate the interventions and continue the partnership to dismantle drug trafficking networks and bring them to justice.
The upgrade of the forensic laboratory is expected to significantly enhance NDLEA’s capabilities in analyzing suspicious substances and evidence collected from crime scenes and suspects, ultimately contributing to the agency’s efforts to combat the growing threat of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
