‘West Africa’s first DNA forensic centre in Lagos to boost security, others’

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has commissioned a Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) forensic centre in Lagos State. The facility is first of its kind in the West Africa sub-region.

At the handover yesterday of the Lagos DNA & Forensic Centre on the Island, the governor said the move had further demonstrated his administration’s commitment to reform the justice sector.

He expressed joy that the state had joined the league of advanced countries deploying high-end technology to better the lot of their citizens.

Reiterating that security was key to good governance and sustainability of investments, Ambode noted that his government had, for the umpteenth time, shown its resolve to stay ahead of criminals through scientific inquiries with the establishment of the facility.

According to him, the state-of-the-art edifice can conveniently provide the police, prosecutors, defence attorneys and the citizens with crime scene processing; serological screening for blood and semen. It is also able to perform scientific analysis of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship analyses, expert witness and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis as well as cold case file review and mass human disaster identification.

He pledged that government would not rest on its oars in securing the state for the better, adding that the second phase of the project had begun in earnest.

According to the governor, the next stage entails additional capacity in the areas of toxicology; trace evidence and controlled substance analysis; fingerprint and latent prints; firearms, ballistics and tool marks; digital forensics and questioned documents examination.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said the facility would churn out reliable data for dispensation of justice. The Consul General of United States Embassy in Lagos, John Bray, congratulated the state on the feat.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, represented by Rear Admiral Lawal Modu Adams, said the centre would boost anti-terrorism fight in the country.

The Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said the facility would boost security and justice delivery.