Overcrowded Nigerian Correctional Centers Struggle to Meet Inmate Needs
Nigeria’s correctional centers are grappling with severe overcrowding, posing numerous challenges in meeting the needs of inmates. Despite commendable efforts by the federal government to change inmates’ abode from prison yards to correctional centers, a lack of infrastructure has hindered progress.
The country’s immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, raised concerns over the accommodation of condemned inmates in these facilities. Despite his efforts to decongest and improve inmate welfare, he expressed discomfort with governors’ reluctance to sign death warrants for the execution of condemned inmates, ultimately exacerbating the problem of overcrowding.
Investigations have revealed that a staggering sixty percent of individuals in custody across correctional centers in Nigeria are either awaiting trial or under prosecution. Recognizing the urgent need for action, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State recently directed the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Honourable Jimi Bada, to visit correctional centers and provide recommendations to address the issue.
Accompanied by the solicitor general and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Adekemi Bello, and other management staff, Bada visited the Ilesa and Ile-Ife correctional centers in Osun State. At the Ilesa facility, it was revealed that the center, designed to accommodate 586 inmates, currently houses 766 individuals. Similarly, the Ile-Ife Correctional Center, with a building capacity of 160 inmates, is presently accommodating 346 individuals, of which only 44 have been convicted.
Expressing concern, the attorney general highlighted that the prisons remain congested due to the large number of inmates awaiting trial. As he commended the team visiting the facilities, Controller of the State Correctional Service, Mr. Tolu Ogunsakin, called on public office holders and philanthropists to emulate the gesture of the commissioner for justice, who paid off the fine of one underaged inmate amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand Naira (#150,000). He also encouraged the use of plea bargain options to alleviate prison congestion.
However, human rights crusader Comrade Waheed Lawal argued that Nigerian correctional centers lack the necessary facilities to effectively serve their correctional purposes. He emphasized that inmates cannot be expected to function optimally in an unfavorable environment and suggested that if appropriate correctional facilities cannot be provided, it would be better to revert to prisons. Lawal’s perspective underscores the critical need for improved infrastructure and resources.
Pastor Lawrence Agbesanya, a cleric, emphasized that the government is not adequately considering the population explosion in the country. He pointed out that the same provisions made for inmates when the population was significantly smaller are still being maintained. Agbesanya recommended the establishment of more correctional facilities to accommodate the growing numbers, drawing a parallel to the establishment of additional educational institutions to cater to the increasing number of students seeking admission.
As Nigeria grapples with overcrowded correctional centers, it is clear that immediate action is required to address this pressing issue. By investing in infrastructure and providing adequate resources, the government can ensure that these facilities meet the needs of inmates, enabling effective rehabilitation and a more just criminal justice system. Only then can the country move towards alleviating the congestion and ensuring a conducive environment for those in custody.
