…. Says the new police for the New Nigeria must be driven by these two scientific applications.
The Police Service Commission says it will leverage the forensic and DNA studies to build a new police force for a new Nigeria. The Commission believes that since crime has gone scientific and across national boundaries, there is a compelling need to embrace forensic and DNA studies.
Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni, conveyed the Commission’s position today, Monday, June 16th 2025, when he received in audience a delegation from the Centre for Forensic Programmes and DNA Studies of the University of Benin led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Christopher Osunbor.
DIG Argungu said knowledge of forensic programmes and the use of DNA in investigations would go a long way in assisting the police and the commission as an oversight body in handling delicate criminal matters across the country.
He di
rected that the Director of Human Resource Management and the Director of Legal Services of the Commission should immediately meet with the Centre and get a Memorandum of Understanding in place for a partnership that would also be extended to the Nigeria Police Force.
The PSC Chairman said it is to the advantage of the Commission and the Nigeria Police to embrace forensic and DNA studies, adding that the knowledge is also valuable for all known professions, as it is vital in policy formulation and implementation.
He said the Commission will partner with the Centre for Forensic Programmes and DNA studies (CEFPADS) of the University of Benin.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration of the university who came in company of Prof. Eddy Ehikhamenor, Director, Forensics and DNA Centre; Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, Deputy Registrar and Head, Public Relations and Protocol; and Mr. Lucky Ikhalo, Deputy Registrar and Head, Abuja Liaison Office, said the team was in the Commission to collaborate with it and, through the Commission, also collaborate with the police in forging a partnership and exposing the two agencies of government to the benefits of forensic programmes and DNA studies.
Prof. Osubor said the programmes of the Centre are “critical to the kind of jobs security agencies are involved in”. He said the Centre is also ready to offer services that are critical to the Commission’s mandate.
Prof. Ehikhamenor, the Director of the Centre, who gave an overview of the workings of the Centre, said its mandate was based on public-private partnership (PPP) with the intent to have a sustainable functioning molecular laboratory that is devoid of any strike or bureaucracy.
He said the objectives include building sustainable bridges in forensics and DNA between the haves and have-nots in Nigeria to ensure appropriate conviction of criminals on all aspects of our development.
Prof. Ehikhamenor also said the Centre is built to assist in developing a national DNA database “for research and crime investigations” and to provide a platform for all forensic screening during epidemics or pandemics of various pathogens like Covid-19, bacteria, etc.
The Centre is to design academic curriculum at diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral levels for beneficiary Nigerian universities. It also organises forensic educational training with research to make them eligible to be certified as DNA analysts or forensic analysts with support from “our partners in developed countries”.
The Director of the Centre said the advantages of the Centre include helping to establish the identity of mass casualties and unknown victims, dead or alive and providing a template for regular capacity building for several stakeholders such as DSS, police and the military.
Prof. Ehikhamenor said the Centre’s present goal is to provide annual slots for a range of 12 – 20 police officers’ admissions at “our postgraduate level, depending on the affordability of the police; collaborate to perform forensic screening for alcohol and drugs for arrested suspects nationwide under investigation.”
