The Federal Government has announced plans to reduce the number of custodial facilities across Nigeria, stating that the country does not need all 256 currently in operation.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the Public Hearing on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations against the Nigerian Correctional Service, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, explained that some correctional facilities operate at only 30 to 40 percent capacity, while others are overcrowded.
The government is considering redistributing inmates convicted of federal offenses to balance the population across correctional centers. Every state has a Federal High Court with jurisdiction over such cases.
Key Points from the Minister’s Statement:
- Some custodial centers are underutilized, while others operate at 200% capacity.
- Reducing the number of facilities will improve supervision and control, reducing the risk of abuse.
- Plans to relocate federal offenders to less crowded prisons as an immediate solution.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also reiterated the government’s commitment to ending inhumane treatment of inmates, warning that such practices will not be tolerated in 2025.
