The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated an audit of the 256 prison facilities across the country, expressing concern over the age and condition of many of these facilities, some of which are between 60 and 100 years old.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the commencement of rehabilitation works at some facilities to enhance their habitability and meet global standards.
During visits to the Janguza Correctional facility in Kano and the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre in Abuja, where rehabilitation efforts have reached advanced stages, the Minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, and the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, emphasized the ongoing reforms in the correctional service aimed at decongesting prisons, improving the welfare of inmates and personnel, and ensuring the facilities live up to their correctional mandate.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted the positive changes within the correctional system, including educational opportunities for inmates, with one inmate having authored three books while pursuing a PhD.
He praised the Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Tinubu, which is focusing on the weakest in society and not just the strongest.
The Minister stated that the government is also working on building a new center in Suleja and is conducting an empirical and scientific facility audit to identify problems and find data-driven solutions to effectively decongest the centers.
This initiative reflects the government's commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the correctional system and ensuring a more humane and effective approach to incarceration and rehabilitation.
