The Federal Government has announced its willingness to partner with relevant stakeholders to decongest Nigeria’s correctional facilities. Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this during a round‑table discussion with the Prisoner Rehabilitation and Welfare Action and donor representatives in Abuja. The statement, signed by Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations Afonja Ajibola, was released on Wednesday.
Aregbesola noted that correctional centres are severely overcrowded with inmates awaiting trial, those on death rows, individuals unable to pay debts and fines, and persons charged with minor offences. He pointed out that first‑time offenders constitute less than 20 % of the prison population. “The correctional service has no power over inmates. Whatever the judiciary orders us to keep, we keep,” he said. “Our role is to ensure the safe custody of inmates and to advise the government.”
While thanking stakeholders for their support, Aregbesola urged them to collaborate with the Federal Government by providing financial, technical, and intellectual assistance to reduce overcrowding. He emphasized that most current inmates are serving state offences, which the President cannot unilaterally release. He also revealed that the President has approved a bill moving the correctional service to the concurrent list.
Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service Halliru Nababa warned that the number of inmates nationwide far exceeds the capacity of existing facilities. He cited the custodial centre in Port Harcourt, designed for 800 inmates, which now holds over 4,000. Nababa affirmed that the correctional service is ready to receive assistance and would appreciate any support to help decongest the facilities.
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