The Federal Government has revealed plans to reduce the number of correctional facilities across Nigeria, stating that the country does not need all 256 currently in operation.
This was announced by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a public hearing in Abuja on allegations of corruption and other violations in the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He pointed out that some facilities operate at just 30 to 40 percent of their capacity, while others are overcrowded.
To manage this, the government plans to assess inmates convicted of federal crimes and relocate them to less congested facilities.
Since every state has a Federal High Court, redistribution of inmates would help balance the population across different locations.
The minister also spoke about the poor treatment of inmates, stressing that such practices would no longer be accepted.
He stated that correctional officers should focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
He also suggested that personnel undergo psychological evaluations to ensure they handle inmates properly.
He criticized the idea of incarceration without efforts at rehabilitation, saying correctional centers should not be places of condemnation.
The government, he added, is committed to reforms that will improve both the conditions of the facilities and the mindset of those who oversee them.
