The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Olatunji Disu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), have hailed the inaugurated Deoxyriboncleic Acid (DNA) Centre in Enugu.
They said that the Centre would revolutionise crime detection, investigation and prosecution in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Centre for DNA Forensic and Criminal Investigation (CEDFOCI) was established by the Godfrey Okoye University in collaboration with the Enugu State Government .
It was inaugurated on Wednesday at the university’s main campus in Ugwuomu, Enugu.
Speaking at the inauguration, the IGP described the facility as a landmark achievement that demonstrated the power of collaboration among government, academia and the scientific community in addressing national challenges through innovation.
According to him, the centre represents a significant investment in knowledge, justice and national development, while positioning Enugu State as a hub for education, technology, healthcare and research.
He noted that modern policing had evolved beyond reliance on eyewitness accounts and confessional statements, stressing that criminal investigations were increasingly anchored on forensic science, intelligence, technology and objective evidence.
The police chief said that Nigeria’s growing security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, homicide, armed robbery, cybercrime and sexual offences, required the deployment of advanced scientific tools.
“DNA analysis has revolutionised criminal investigations globally.
“It enables law enforcement agencies to identify criminals accurately, exonerate innocent persons, establish family relationships, identify missing persons and strengthen the administration of justice.
“Science speaks without fear or favour. It simply reveals the truth. For the Nigeria Police Force, this represents the future of professional policing,” he said.
Disu commended Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Godfrey Okoye University, the DNA Learning Centre and other partners for their commitment to establishing the facility.
He described the facility as a strategic national asset whose benefits would extend beyond Enugu State to the entire country.
The IGP also noted that the centre would inspire young Nigerians by demonstrating the practical role of science in solving crimes, protecting communities and strengthening institutions.
In his address, Fagbemi said the facility marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of science, technology and innovation-driven development.
According to him, the centre demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to deploy cutting-edge scientific tools to advance justice, security, public health and national development.
“Today marks far more than the opening of a laboratory. It represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of science, technology and innovation-driven development,” he said.
The AGF said that countries that had successfully reduced crime and improved public confidence in their justice systems had done so by embracing science-driven approaches to law enforcement and governance.
He said the facility would strengthen and equip law enforcement agencies with modern investigative tools, providing prosecutors with credible scientific evidence and assisting courts in delivering fair and just outcomes.
Fagbemi said the inauguration aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of leveraging technology, innovation, intelligence and modern infrastructure to strengthen national security and drive economic development.
