Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed there are 256 correctional centres in the country and 84,000 inmates.
He spoke during the presentation of the report on the “National Assessment of the Situation of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty”.
Tunji-Ojo said the Nigeria Correctional Service Act of 2019 mandates a focus on reforming, rehabilitating, and reintegrating juvenile offenders into society. He stressed that Federal Government is committed to implementing reforms that will overhaul the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
“I’m passionate about giving inmates, especially children and young adults, a second chance because I believe that a minor’s mistake should not define their future,” he said.
In a statement issued by Ozoya Imohimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, Tunji-Ojo expressed concern over the number of correctional centres in relation to the inmate population across the country.
“We need to ask ourselves certain questions—do we really need 256 correctional centres in Nigeria?” he said.
“With a population of around 200 million and only 84,000 inmates, why do we have so many centres? How many armed correctional officers do we have to secure them all?”
The minister also addressed the case of Bobrisky, a popular crossdresser born Idris Okuneye, stating that “things would no longer continue as they had.”
“We are firm in our resolve. By next week, the committee’s report will be ready. My focus is not on Bobrisky, but on the officers. If any officer is found culpable, they will face the consequences,” he added.
The minister noted that simply renaming prisons as correctional centres was not enough, adding the government is keen on transforming NCoS into an institution focused on rehabilitation, reformation, and redemption.
“The correctional service cannot continue to tarnish the image of the Nigerian government. We will not allow the actions of a few to damage the institution’s reputation,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He expressed appreciation for the contributors to the report, assuring that the government would consider all the issues raised and pursue sustainable solutions.
He also said that the ministry would continue to support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address juvenile justice matters.
