EFCC unveils chemical forensics lab in Rivers to combat oil crime

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has inaugurated a Chemical Forensics Laboratory at its Zonal Directorate in Port Harcourt, marking a significant advancement in its investigative capabilities.

The new facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, enables the EFCC to independently conduct comprehensive analyses of petroleum products, a move that will streamline investigations into oil-related crimes, including oil bunkering and adulteration.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who led the commissioning ceremony, highlighted that the laboratory was established with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

The facility is expected to reduce reliance on external agencies, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources, which previously caused delays in the analysis of petroleum samples crucial to investigations.

The project, nearly two years in the making, represents a strategic asset for the nation, bolstering Nigeria’s ability to tackle complex economic crimes within the oil sector.

Dignitaries present at the event included Rivers State Chief Judge Justice Simeon Amadi, as well as representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, and the Port Harcourt Refinery, who joined Olukoyede in inspecting the laboratory’s facilities.