By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has agreed to waive charges for forensic analysis of adulterated petroleum products.
This was after the NSCDC frowned at charges being paid to the state oil company for forensic analysis of adulterated petroleum products.
Speaking, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Mr Ahmed Audi, said when adulterated products are seized, analysis is carried out in the laboratory before going to court.
Mr Audi said the outcome of the analysis is tendered in the court as an exhibit.
“The petroleum product belongs to NNPC, but when we arrest, before going to court, we have to conduct a thorough investigation.
“During this investigation, part of what will be provided in court to be tendered is the product. But before you tender the product, you must carry out a forensic test to see the product’s viability and authenticity, whether it is genuine or adulterated,” he said.
Mr Audi said that although the NNPC had the testing lab, it still had to be paid before forensic tests could take place in the lab.
“You see, we pay, and this is still their product. But we have been engaging them to waive the charge because we don’t have money for such payments.
“It has been a very serious problem for us,” he added.
The NSCDC chief revealed, however, that the NNPC had assured the corps of its willingness to waive such payments.
“The Group General Managing Director had given me his words that he is working on it and will grant our request.
“We must commend him for that,” Mr Audi said.
