PRESIDENT BUHARI SET TO BUILD NEW PRISON FACILITY IN OGONI LAND, RIVERS STATE

As a way to decongest the Port Harcourt Correctional Centers, the Federal Government says it is set to construct new custodial centres (prison) in Ogoni land in Rivers State.

The Federal Government also disclosed that it would equally build two new custodial facilities in Karchi in Abuja and Kano, an initiative that us targeted three thousand (3,000) capacity.

Brave Views gathered that each of the Correctional facilities would have courts for the trial of inmates.

Minister of Interior, RAUF AREGBESOLA made this known on Friday at the inauguration of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Osun State Command Headquarters Complex at Osogbo.

He said the Federal Government’s plan was to extend the construction of such capacity custodial centres to the six
geopolitical zones in the country.

The minister disclosed that the custodial project in Kano was already near completion.

He said when completed, the custodial projects, would help to ease congestion considerably and enhance the capacity to manage facilities for corrections and rehabilitation of inmates.

The Minister further explained that the National Custodial Centres currently had the capacity to only accommodate 57,278 inmates, adding that: “But as of the last count, earlier in the week, there is a total population of 68,747 inmates, indicating an overpopulation capacity of 18%”.

He said the government had been addressing the challenges of congestion.

He noted that at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministries of Interior and Justice initiated a presidential pardon and amnesty programmes for inmates.

The Interior Minister, RAUF AREGBESOLA informed that over 5,000 inmates had so far been released under the programme.