BRIEF REMARKS BY IGP SOLOMON E. ARASE, NPM, FDC, AT THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF NIGERIA POLICE FORENSIC LABORATORY AND DIGITAL RESOURCE CENTRE AT THE FORCE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION DE
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It is with a sense of elation and professional fulfilment that I welcome you all to this landmark ceremony marking the commissioning of the ultramodern Nigeria Police Forensic Laboratory and Digital Resource Centre.
2. My sense of elation stems from the fact that the integration of global best policing practices has been one of the core focus of my leadership. This is because forensic-guided police operation represents a critical component of modern policing functions. Biometric support to policing is not only a source of police intelligence, it is also a vital aid to successful investigation and prosecution of criminal elements.
3. Unfortunately, the Nigeria Police Force has over the years, been grappling with weak forensic capacity which has been a major factor in our inability to manage complex criminal situations. Today’s event is designed to bridge this capacity gap in the Force in relation to forensic assets of the Force.
4. The asset being commissioned today is a traditional scientific investigation tool of police departments all over the world. It is also a Personal Identity Management System that the Nigeria Police Force ought to have had long before now.
5. The facility has a wide variety of applications for the positive identification of suspects through their fingerprints, iris and facial recognition functions. It is designed to collect, store, merge and display the identity of the targeted criminal element even at the scene of crime. The system can also convert existing manual record of arrested suspects into digital and searchable format.
6. With this system, the Nigeria Police is not only set to comply with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal justice ACT 2015 to capture and remit to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation all biometrics of suspected persons arrested by the Police but also put the Police in a position to key into the Presidential directives that all data capturing Government Agencies should harmonize and integrate Personal Identities captured by such agencies on or before the end of 2016.
7. Furthermore, the facility has been set up to complement the existing Forensic Laboratory in Lagos. In addition, the Digital Resource Centre was designed to serve as an information processing centre where outcomes of analysed pieces of forensic evidence or other specialised policing materials or criminal information are disseminated in the most secure fashion to other Police Formation. It has the capacity for accessing over five (5) million Law Enforcement Research materials such as journals, reports, Force orders, annual reports, forensic books and publications by renowned Police authors and experts around the world over.
8. From the Digital Resource Centre, officers can conduct research from any facet of policing through the FCIID robust data portal also connected to the INTERPOL Global Learning Centre, Singapore. Other features include full display of digital maps as well as crime scene investigation, and forensic videos. Furthermore, the centre will serve as a central Unit for training, presentation and strategic meetings for the various sections of the FCIID.
9. Ladies and gentlemen, the dream of acquiring this forensic asset for the Force would have remained a mere illusion, but for the steadfastness and strong commitment of DIG Christopher Katso, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department and his Team.
10. Permit me, therefore to commend the Police team that coordinated the implementation of this Project. Looking back, they can be proud that through their sense of commitment to duty, they have aided my leadership in bequeathing to our dear nation a new Police Force that citizens have been desiring for decades. I am indeed proud and appreciative of you.
11. To my fellow professional colleagues who will utilise the facility being commissioned today, let me remind you that modern policing is no longer by power, might or extra-judicial means. It is driven by application of technology, forensic science, intelligence and above all, citizen’s consent. The Force leadership has by this commissioning exercise, equipped you with a vital tool to guide your operations, investigations and prosecutorial engagements. You now have no excuse to operate in unprofessional manner. You, rather, now have the means to align your operations to the rule of law, citizens’ professional expectations, and best international practices. I trust that you shall up your policing game, accordingly.
12. I thank you all for your attendance and pray for God’s Divine Protection over our beloved nation.