The proposed first ever Forensic Laboratory in Africa by the Lagos State Government will gulp N89 billion. The laboratory will be sited in Badagry.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Hamzat disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, saying that the government was ready to roll out the project that will help to resolve mysterious death in the country. “The laboratory is not just about Lagos. It is about the entire country. When Dana crash happened in Lagos, there is no forensic laboratory in this country. In Lagos State, We have designed the forensic laboratory. We have done the need assessment. Governor Fashola put the report together and sent it to the Presidency.
“We have got the land for the project. At the time we were doing it, French Embassy and British High Commission observed that it would open up vast opportunities for the country. The US Embassy helped us and linked us with FBI to see how they did it. If we can do this, the economy of Lagos and Nigeria would improve,” he stated.
The commissioner said several countries go abroad for forensic issues, adding that “if we have it in Lagos, why should they go to the US for forensic test? The laboratory will go through accreditation. Once that is done, it is the same test that will be conducted in Nigeria. As long as we have that accreditation, what is here is what is in their country.
“We are just taking money out of the country. Now, if we do that and build the road, imagine the transaction that takes place among West African countries. There are so many things that are involved.”
According to Hamzat, “we have done the need assessment. In order to build forensic laboratory anywhere in the world, you must first do a need analysis. A need analysis tells you that if you build a ballistic laboratory and if a gun is shot, how is it shot?
“They will now talk to the police on how many do you have in one year and how many people live in this community. When the team came, they spoke with commissioner of police, judges, prison officers and so on. “We have done those analyses. In that report, we have indicated all these facts. Our consultant just finished building one forensic laboratory in Kuwait. It is fantastic. It involves a lot of money today. It requires about N89 billion.
“We realise that if the country needs it, let us act together as a country. We have sent the report to Mr. President. He also has acted on it and sent it to the Inspector-General of Police. One commissioner has come to us in Lagos and we have held series of meetings on this project. Definitely we can see positive reaction on it.”
—Kazeem Ugbodaga, P.M. News
