The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced on Tuesday that the decongestion efforts at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have resulted in savings of approximately N3 billion for the Federal Government within the past year.
This announcement was made during the unveiling of the “Report on the National Assessment of the Situation of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty in Nigeria” in Abuja.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted that this success stemmed from the release of over ten inmates who were unable to settle fines as low as N10,000 and N20,000. He elaborated that the daily cost of feeding an inmate amounts to N750, which equates to N22,500 monthly and over N300,000 annually.
He underscored the importance of exploring collaborative opportunities with the private sector to raise N500 million aimed at compensating and facilitating the release of qualifying inmates.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo expressed his disappointment with the present conditions of the correctional system, advocating for a fundamental shift in ideology rather than superficial reforms. He stated, “A prison is a place of incarceration, whereas a correctional center should focus on reformation, transformation, and rehabilitation.”
In addressing the issue of child incarceration, the minister called for the establishment of support systems to ensure that minor transgressions do not escalate into major obstacles.
UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, reinforced the notion that child rights are a facet of human rights, drawing attention to the widespread issue of pre-trial detention and the limited availability of community-based diversion programs. (NAN)
