Lagos in search of investors in proposed forensic laboratory

The Lagos State government is seeking investors to buy into its proposed forensic laboratory which is to be sited in Badagry.

BusinessDay gathered that the laboratory upon its establishment may perform all-source intelligence analysis, process, exploit and disseminate biometrics, forensics and possibly serve as training centre for forensic science students.

Adebiyi Mabadeje, the state commissioner for science and technology, who spoke on the proposed lab on Thursday, said the land for it has been secured, master plan submitted and the soil test on the site carried out.

He added that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is now being done along with perimeter fencing of the location while N30.3 million has been paid as compensation to communities at Gayingbo for the five hectares of land it secured for the project.

“The state government wants to make it a public private partnership (PPP) initiative”, he said, adding that discussions are presently ongoing with interested potential vendors.

The commissioner said that because it is a very technical area, the state government is taking time to evaluate proposals that have been submitted for the project.

Speaking also on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), he affirmed that the government was currently negotiating with NEC Japan, with a view to procuring additional 1,000 CCTV to complement what had been deployed by the Federal Government in Lagos.

He said the state government has established 120 ICT laboratories in schools to enable pupils gain first hand practical experience on science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) said it has so far registered three million residents in the ongoing residents registration exercise. The programme is designed to enable government determine the number of persons resident in Lagos in order to prioritise the needs and deliver accordingly.

Olayinka Fashola, the general manager of the agency, who disclosed this to journalists, said the body is set for a renewed campaign to generate the interest of the people in the exercise.

She also hinted of plans by the agency to sustain the reward system for persons who register in the exercise.