Drug War: NDLEA Gets Forensic Labs in Abuja, Enugu, Trains 20 Officers to Break 25-Year Jinx
By Raheem Ibrahim
After over 25 years of conducting forensic analysis in a single laboratory facility in Lagos, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully established two new forensic laboratories and upgraded the existing one to enhance accessibility, expedite timely analysis, and prosecute drug-related cases more efficiently, following a surge in drug seizures in recent months.
Additionally, the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has donated advanced forensic equipment to the NDLEA’s Lagos laboratory to further boost its efficiency.
Confirming the development, Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, said the two new laboratories—located in Abuja and Enugu—are strategically sited and fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet the highest standards of quality, safety protocols, and environmental sustainability.
Expressing delight at the milestone, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), stated:
“The newly constructed laboratories will significantly enhance our forensic analysis capabilities, improve our capacity to process cases swiftly, and strengthen our fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
Marwa further noted that while the two new labs are set to commence operations, the existing Lagos facility has undergone a comprehensive renovation and has now been transformed into a state-of-the-art center.
“This project was made possible through the sponsorship of the US INL and was implemented by the UNODC,” he added.
In addition to equipping the laboratories with cutting-edge analytical instruments, the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), has trained and certified 20 forensic analysts. These officers are now empowered to sign off on drug analysis reports, thereby further strengthening the Agency’s forensic capacity.
This effort is also complemented by the implementation of robust quality control measures, following the Agency’s successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC’s International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) programme—an integral component of the International Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) that ensures adherence to quality management systems, accuracy, and reliability of forensic results.
Commending the officers of the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring, Marwa credited the breakthrough to their commitment and teamwork, noting that the achievement is a testament to the Agency’s resolve to equip its laboratories with modern instruments and develop its personnel’s expertise to handle emerging challenges, including New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
“The newly constructed drug laboratories and the renovated Lagos facility mark a significant milestone in the history of the Agency, and we are proud of this accomplishment,” Marwa said.
Meanwhile, the US-INL has donated a new spectroscopy device to further enhance the Lagos lab’s operational capacity.
The handover was conducted by the Director of INL in Nigeria, Ms. Candace Spradley, who praised the fruitful collaboration between the NDLEA and INL. She expressed confidence that the equipment would significantly improve the Agency’s ability to detect and analyze suspicious substances.
A team of senior NDLEA officials, led by Director of Seaport Operations, DCGN Omolade Faboyede, received the US delegation and the equipment at the Agency’s Ikoyi, Lagos headquarters annex.
Other officials present included Director of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring, ACGN Patricia Afolabi; Deputy Director, Media and Advocacy, ACGN Rita Geh Okpere; Head of Special Operations Unit, ACGN Akinola Idowu Grace; and Commander of the Lagos State Strategic Command, CN Abubakar Liman Wali, among others.
