The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a notable step toward modernising the country’s correctional system with the approval to relocate 29 correctional centres nationwide. The development was endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of a broader effort to upgrade custodial facilities and tackle longstanding infrastructural challenges. The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this development while commissioning 39 newly acquired vehicles and five bullet-resistant guard booths for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Abuja. The minister emphasised that many of the country’s correctional facilities were built decades ago and are now outdated.
Facilities such as the Suleja Correctional Centre, established in 1914, and the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, built in 1956, no longer meet modern standards. He emphasised that the relocation project is necessary to improve the conditions for both inmates and correctional officers. Numerous issues, including overcrowding, infrastructural decay, inadequate healthcare, and Security lapses, have long plagued the nation’s correctional centres. Many of these facilities were designed for a far lower inmate population than they currently house. The outdated Infrastructure makes it difficult for correctional officers to manage these facilities.
Government’s commitment to security and rehabilitation.
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the Nigerian correctional system has struggled with prolonged detentions, with a significant number of inmates awaiting trial for extended periods. This situation has led to growing concerns over the effectiveness of the correctional system and the need for urgent reforms. By approving the relocation of these centres, the government is taking a bold step toward addressing these longstanding challenges and ensuring a more effective correctional system. In addition to the relocation, the federal government has invested in new security infrastructure to enhance the safety of these facilities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service recently acquired 39 escort vehicles to improve the transportation of inmates to and from court. This move is expected to streamline legal proceedings and ensure timely access to justice for detainees. Furthermore, five bullet-resistant guard booths have been installed in strategic locations, including high-security correctional centres in Kuje, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos. These booths have long-range surveillance capabilities and are designed to withstand heavy weaponry and explosives. This initiative responds to the rising security threats, including jailbreaks and external attacks.
Improving the welfare of correctional officers nationwide.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also emphasised the government’s commitment to improving the Welfare of correctional officers, acknowledging their critical role in maintaining security and facilitating rehabilitation. Over the past two years, more than 50,000 paramilitary officers have been promoted, addressing long-standing stagnation in career progression. Additionally, the minister noted efforts to professionalise the correctional service by ensuring that recruitment and training practices align with international standards. He stressed the importance of equipping officers with the necessary skills to manage modern correctional facilities and implement rehabilitation programs to help inmates reintegrate into society.
In December 2024, the Pro Bono Centre, a non-governmental organisation known as the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, citing the bad condition of prison facilities across the country as reported by AskNigeria News, urged federal and state governments to tackle the terrible state of correctional facilities nationwide promptly. Yusuf Nurudeen, an esteemed Human Rights lawyer and the Foundation’s Executive Director, issued a statement urging Prisoner treatment reforms to coincide with the 2024 International Prisoners’ Justice Day celebration.
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Nevertheless, the federal government has taken steps toward reform. The Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 was a pivotal legislative effort to shift the correctional system’s focus from punishment to rehabilitation. The recent approval of correctional places relocations aligns with this broader reform agenda and signals the government’s commitment to creating a more humane and effective correctional system. While challenges remain, the steps taken so far indicate a clear vision for the future of the country’s correctional services.