The Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) commissioned a 3,000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centre in Janguza, Kano state on Friday. As explained in a statement by Abubakar Umar, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, this facility is part of the six megacustodial facilities built in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to eradicate overcrowding in custodial centres for the humane custody of inmates.
President Buhari stated that this new facility will reduce the government’s expenditure on logistics since the centre is equipped with court facilities for the speedy dispensation of justice. Additionally, Rauf Aregbeshola, the Minister of Interior, called on state governments to take charge of feeding inmates who are committed to state offences and held in federal custodial centres. This, he said, is in line with the recently amended constitution of the Federal Republic.
In his remarks, the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, expressed his gratitude to both the Federal Government and the government of Kano State for supporting the project. He called upon the public to accept returning ex-offender inmates as they have been properly reformed. He further stressed that any form of rejection or stigmatisation would send them back to criminal livelihood.
In conclusion, President Buhari stated that he has no doubt that the incoming government, which is also progressive, will sustain the tempo of improvement.
