Lagos State Enhances Forensic and Cybersecurity Capabilities

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a substantial investment in forensic science and cybersecurity to improve the prosecution of criminal cases in Nigeria. This announcement was made during the 2026 Global Forensics Summit, organized in collaboration with the International Academy of Forensics.

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that many criminal cases fail in court due to the unavailability of credible scientific evidence capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny. To address this, Lagos has invested in modern forensic infrastructure, including the establishment of West Africa's first DNA forensic center in 2017, which is ISO accredited.

The second phase of this initiative includes toxicology and forensic chemistry. Additionally, Lagos is the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a fully operational cybersecurity center for real-time monitoring and response to cyber threats.

The summit featured keynotes from legal experts who stressed the importance of a robust legal framework to support forensic investigations and the critical role of digital evidence in combating modern crime.