By Tina Amanda
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has inaugurated the Chemical Forensics Laboratory at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate.
The laboratory, funded by the MacArthur Foundation and implemented by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), marks a milestone in enhancing the Commission’s capacity to tackle financial crimes.
Olukoyede hailed the project as pivotal in advancing transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“This is a significant milestone in our journey to foster transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
“The launch of our state-of-the-art chemical laboratory, a facility that positions the EFCC at the forefront of forensic analysis in the fight against oil-related crimes such as oil bunkering and adulteration.”
He noted that, in previous years, the EFCC relied on external agencies, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), for oil and gas sample analyses.
“This dependence often delayed investigations. With the new lab, the EFCC can conduct in-house quality assessments, speeding up investigative and prosecutorial processes.
“With this new laboratory established and equipped with the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation and expertly administered by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) we are empowered to independently carry out rigorous tests on petroleum products.
“This facility, which took nearly two years to complete, now enables us to deliver swift and reliable results that support our investigative and prosecutorial efforts.
“The establishment of this laboratory is more than an achievement for the EFCC: it is a national asset that enhances Nigeria’s capacity to combat complex economic crimes in the oil sector.”
He also expressed deep gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation for their support of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and thanked the CDD for overseeing the project from inception to completion.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation and our implementing partners, CDD, for guiding this project to this crucial milestone,” he said.
Mary Okpe, Head of Programs at CDD, highlighted the lab’s broader impact, emphasizing that it represents progress for all Nigerian anti-corruption agencies.
“Supporting this laboratory goes beyond enhancing EFCC’s capabilities; it is a beacon of progress for all anti-corruption agencies in the country.”
She added that the lab will empower agencies to perform more accurate scientific analyses, promoting evidence-based accountability.
In his closing remarks, the Acting Zonal Director of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, ACE1 Adebayo Adeniyi, expressed appreciation for the support from the MacArthur Foundation and CDD.
He noted that the lab would significantly boost the EFCC’s ability to combat financial crimes through advanced forensic analysis.
“We thank you for believing in our mission and for empowering us with the tools needed to serve the Nigerian people,” Adeniyi concluded.
