For analysts’ who had been questioning the rationale considered by authorities in Lagos State to invest in the first DNA Forensic Lab in West Africa when biometric data system in Nigeria is yet to be harmonized, an official of the state government weekend, revealed that the laboratory will rely mainly on data from the Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency (LASRRA), an agency of the state government in charge of residents database management.
In an interview, the top member of the State Executive Council in an interview told Business Hilights that “Lagos is not putting the cart before the horse because if you can recall, we already have a robust biometric residents’ database in LASRRA which every resident of the state is supposed to have registered with by now.”
“Lagos State Government had been advising and will continue to encourage residents to avail themselves the opportunity to be captured so that on issues of forensic investigations, it will be easy for the state.
According to him, “LASRRA registration has always been free and will continue to be free for every resident. The government needs it for planning and other strategic importance like the forensic lab we now have in place.
Business Hilights recalls that LASRRA was put in place by the former administration of Mr. Babatunde Fashola to develop and manage a comprehensive database of residents in the state for use in planning and related consultations.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had last week, inaugurated the state’s DNA Forensic Centre, located on Odunlami Street, Lagos Island.
In his remarks, Ambode noted that the Lab would not only help in the resolution of crimes but would also be useful in clearing controversies relating to paternity.
According to the Governor, the centre was set up among other things to support criminal justice system in Lagos by improving the speed of adjudication and justice delivery on issues of forensic investigations.
Ambode described the laboratory as a significant milestone in his administration’s quest to strengthen the justice system in Lagos and to make the state safe both for the residents and investors.
He said the initiative had brought Lagos State at par with other advanced societies around the globe where technology was being exploited to make life easier for the people.
According to him, “From the domestic front to our places of work, from the way we learn, to doing business, the use of technology has become a way of life. You will, therefore, understand why our administration had no hesitation in approving this project which serves, amongst other things, as an effective method of bringing perpetrators of crime to book and ensuring quick dispensation of justice.”
“The DNA Forensic Centre had been adequately equipped to provide services such as “serological screening of blood and semen; DNA analysis of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship DNA analysis; expert witness and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis; cold case file review and mass disaster human identification.”
While stressing that the lab would come in handy to the police, prosecutors, defense counsel and private citizens, Ambode gave further assurance that his administration would not rest on its oars but would immediately move to the second stage of the project, by creating 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.”
