FG Budgets Over N22bn to Feed Inmates
The Federal Government says the sum of N22.44 billion was earmarked to feed inmates in all the custodial centres across the country.
Speaking at a two-day conference on ‘Decongestion and Corrections Administration’ in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, said the amount was due to the congestion of the custodial centres.
He called for the reform of the service and custodial centre for the smooth rehabilitation of inmates.
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Belgore said, “The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for the feeding of inmates.
“There is the need for holistic Corrections reforms, including the modernization of custodial centres to ensure the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Stakeholders have stressed the need to build new facilities and redesign the bail system to actualize why we are here today. ”
“Presently, there are 244 Custodial Centres nationwide, with 75,507 inmate population, thereby leading to 82 Custodial Centres being overcrowded. The total number of male inmates are 73,821 and 1,686 are female inmates. Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.”
“Dilapidation of the centres, criminalisation of the society and the inability to separate awaiting trial inmates from convicted persons,” he said.
He said that stakeholders have since emphasised the need to build new facilities and redesign the bail system.
“I am of the view that the discourse at this conference should allocate more time to address speedy dispensation of justice to reduce number of inmates on awaiting trial.
“In as much as the Ministry of Interior works tirelessly to accomplish the goal of achieving greater reduction of number of inmates across our custodial centres, we are determined to ensure that the correctional facilities provide not just a decent accommodation.
“We also ensure that inmates acquire skills and knowledge to advance their integration into the society when they eventually regain freedom,” Belgore said.
He added that the conference should propose efficient, effective and sustainable solutions to tackle congestion of custodial centres and effective implementation of non-custodial measures.
The permanent secretary added that strategies should be devised to promote effective reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
