The Federal Authorities has accredited the relocation of 29 custodial centres throughout the nation, citing fast urbanization and rising safety considerations.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Inside, introduced the choice on Friday whereas commissioning 39 mini inexperienced maria automobiles for inmate transportation and 5 bullet-proof guard cubicles on the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) headquarters in Abuja.
The minister defined that the relocation goals to deal with security dangers posed by the encroachment of city developments round correctional amenities.
“In some locations, custodial centres are instantly going through the gates of state Authorities Homes, positioned inside GRAs, and even sharing fences with markets and personal residences,” Tunji-Ojo famous.
He confirmed that the President has “graciously accredited” the relocation course of, which has already commenced. “We now have began, and we’re dedicated to finishing it,” he assured.
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Tunji-Ojo additionally introduced plans for a brand new paramilitary academy aimed toward professionalizing the workforce. “Paramilitary jobs aren’t poverty alleviation schemes; they’re lifelong careers younger Nigerians ought to aspire to.
“This is the reason the President has accredited the creation of a paramilitary academy, just like the Police Academy and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). The establishment will award levels and concentrate on grooming future leaders within the sector”, he stated.
In his remarks, Sylvester Nwakuche, Appearing Controller Common of Corrections, highlighted the significance of the newly commissioned automobiles and guard cubicles in enhancing correctional providers and making certain facility safety.
He revealed that the 39 mini inexperienced maria automobiles have been procured particularly for the protected and environment friendly transportation of inmates to and from courtrooms.
“These automobiles will probably be distributed strategically throughout our instructions primarily based on operational wants and urgent calls for,” Nwakuche said.
To additional fortify custodial centres towards exterior assaults, the NCoS commissioned 5 bullet-resistant guard cubicles, now stationed at high-risk amenities, together with the Nationwide Headquarters in Abuja, Kuje Medium Safety Custodial Centre, and Most Safety Custodial Centres in Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos.
“These cubicles are geared up with long-range surveillance capabilities and may face up to high-level threats, together with 12.7mm Common Multi-Objective Machine Gun (GPMG) rounds and explosives,” Nwakuche defined.
He famous that the cubicles have been indigenously constructed by EPAIL, a Lagos-based firm, demonstrating the federal government’s assist for native manufacturing.
Nwakuche additionally addressed the persistent problem of Awaiting Trial Individuals (ATP) in Nigeria’s correctional amenities, revealing that as of February 17, 2025, the full inmate inhabitants stood at 80,066. Of this determine, 53,225 — representing 66% — are pretrial inmates, whereas solely 34% or 26,841 are convicted prisoners serving sentences.
He emphasised that the newly procured automobiles would play an important position in bettering court docket attendance for pretrial inmates, serving to to scale back the ATP backlog.
“The well timed manufacturing of inmates in court docket is a core operate outlined within the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019. These automobiles will considerably improve our capability to satisfy this mandate,” he added.