The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, commissioned a Chemical Forensics Laboratory in its Port Harcourt Directorate, Rivers State to enhance and fast-rack its oil and gas investigations and strengthen its Extractive Industry Fraud Section.
The Laboratory, which took two years to build, would enable the EFCC to conduct comprehensive analysis of petroleum products and crude oil samples for investigative and prosecutorial activities .
Olukoyede described the project as a significant milestone in the history of the Commission in its journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
“We celebrate a significant milestone in the Commission’s journey towards advancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector”, he said.
He explained that the Commission, over the years, was relying on external agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, for its product and sample analyses which often caused delays in critical oil and gas-related investigations.
He expressed appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for funding the project and strengthening the fight against corruption in Nigeria, as well as the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD for supervising and guiding the project from inception to its completion.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation for their unwavering commitment to strengthening anti-corruption institutions in Nigeria, and to our implementing partners, CDD, for guiding this project from inception to this important milestone”, he said.
The Head, Programs, CDD, Mary Okpe in her remarks stated that the support for the project was not only to enhance the technical capabilities of the EFCC alone, but also to serve as a beacon of progress for all anti-corruption agencies within the country. She further added that the facility will empower investigative bodies with essential resources to conduct more accurate, scientific analyses in their cases and foster a culture of evidence-based accountability.
Port Harcourt’s Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Adebayo Adeniyi, also expressed appreciation to MacArthur Foundation and CDD “for believing in our mission and for empowering us with the tools needed to serve the Nigerian people and the world at large”.
