The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced exercises to review and decongest Custodial Centres across the country. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this after an assessment of the ongoing 3,000 capacity Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Janguza, Kano State, as well as the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja. Tunji-Ojo noted that the facility audit earlier done led to the ongoing exercise to massively decongest centres.
The Minister was astonished with three books authored by one of the inmates who had been in custody for the past 12 years at the Kuje prison in Abuja.
He added, “This is just one of the so many Custodial Centres that we are renovating at the moment, all the perimeter fencing have been concluded. The entire security infrastructure and the cells have all been renovated”.
The Minister stated that: “Work is ongoing on the Suleja Custodial Centre including the new centre under construction. Also manhunt is still on to recapture the few remaining feeling inmates.”
“The Correctional Service is one that needs intervention and the government is doing everything because we know we have to put in all the efforts to make sure that we are able to offer solutions to most of these problems.”