NGO asks government to address deplorable state of correctional centres

The Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the federal and state governments to address the poor state of correctional centres in Nigeria.

The foundation made the call on Saturday in a statement issued by Yusuf Nurudeen, its executive director, to commemorate International Prisoners Justice (IPJ) Day 2024.

IPD Day, marked every August 10, is dedicated to raising awareness about the plights of prisoners and the impacts of incarceration on their families.

Nurudeen said most of the correctional facilities are overstretched and obsolete, calling on Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, to look into the issue.

He said about 68 percent of inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country were awaiting trial, with many being “unlawfully incarcerated, dehumanised, and stigmatised”.

“Our Foundation empathizes with inmates in the 253 correctional centres in Nigeria, particularly, the 56,072 awaiting trial, representing 68% of the total population who are unlawfully incarcerated, dehumanised, stigmatised, and who have paid the ultimate price due to the deprivation of their fundamental rights. Many of these injustices stem from a lack of access to legal representation at the time of their trials,” the statement reads.

“We feel it is crucial to remind the Minister of Interior about the dilapidated conditions of our correctional centres. Many of the facilities in these centres are obsolete and excessively overstretched.  The 25th of April Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre incident is still very fresh in our memory. We must do everything possible to avert a repeat of such a despicable incident.”

The foundation also highlighted the need for urgent reforms in the administration of criminal justice in the country, ensuring humane treatment, and providing access to education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programmes for prisoners.

The organisation further called on state governments to make laws giving effect to the fifth alteration No.15 which allows states to own and manage correctional services, and to implement provisions for sufficient and sustainable funding for the judiciary.

Matters involving prisons used to be a prerogative of the federal government until March 2023, when ex-President Muhammadu Buhari signed 16 constitutional amendment bills, including the redesignation of correctional services in the concurrent legislative list.

“As an organization dedicated to defending the rights of indigent persons and prisoners across Nigeria, we call on the government and stakeholders in the sector to address the systemic issues with the administration of criminal justice, ensure humane treatment, and provide access to education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programs for prisoners,” Nurudeen said.