The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has expanded its forensic analysis capabilities with the establishment of two new laboratories in Abuja and Enugu, ending a 25-year period during which the agency operated with just a single facility in Lagos.
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The expansion comes in response to a surge in drug seizures in recent months, according to NDLEA. The existing Lagos laboratory has also undergone comprehensive renovation and refurbishment with support from international partners.
“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,” said NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired).
The new facilities are strategically located and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment designed to meet international standards of quality and safety protocols. The renovation of the Lagos facility was sponsored by the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In addition to the physical expansion, the NDLEA has invested in human resources development, collaborating with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) to train and certify 20 forensic analysts who can now officially sign off on drug analysis reports.
The agency has also implemented quality control measures following its successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise programme, part of an International Quality Assurance Programme that ensures the reliability of results.
“This milestone achieved in the area of forensic analysis is borne out of our commitment to equipping the laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments and developing the expertise of the Agency’s personnel,” Marwa said, noting that the improvements will help the NDLEA tackle challenges posed by emerging New Psychoactive Substances.
In a related development, the US-INL has donated a new spectroscopy device to enhance operations at the Lagos laboratory. The equipment was handed over by INL Nigeria Director Candace Spradley, who commended the ongoing collaboration with NDLEA.
The donation was received by a team of NDLEA officials led by the Director of Seaport Operations, DCGN Omolade Faboyede, alongside other senior agency officials.
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