The Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to relocate some correctional centers from urban areas to other parts of the country. This decision was made due to the increasing urbanization that has led to the encroachment of correctional centers on residential areas.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this announcement on Friday in an interview with journalists. He explained that the government has not had any jail attacks under this administration, but rather force majeure incidents, such as the Suleja correctional center collapse, which was caused by its age and poor condition.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that urbanization has led to the encroachment of correctional centers on residential areas, citing the example of the Suleja correctional center, which was only 7 meters away from a residential house. He stated that the law requires a buffer space of 100 meters between correctional centers and residential areas.
The minister also mentioned that the Ikoyi Correctional Center is sharing a fence with a residential house, which is not ideal. He stated that the government is considering relocating some correctional centers to other areas.
Additionally, Tunji-Ojo announced that the government will soon conduct an inmate audit across the 256 correctional centers in the country and sanitize them by freeing those who do not have any business being there in the first instance.
The minister also highlighted that President Bola Tinubu inherited many old correctional centers that need attention, but the government has started renovating and rebuilding some of the prisons in Nigeria.
He stated that the government has renovated over 10 correctional centers under this administration and has done significant work in the Kuje correctional center.
