The Federal Government has announced the release of 4,068 prisoners who were given prison sentences ranging from one to several years, along with the option of a fine and restitution, from all of the country’s detention facilities.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, performed the symbolic release of the prisoners at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, on Saturday. He stated that the goal was to humanely and decongest custodial facilities across the nation so that appropriate reformation and rehabilitation of offenders could occur.
He bemoaned the fact that, as of Friday, November 17, 2023, there were roughly 80,804 prisoners housed in 253 correctional facilities across the country; the 253 custodial centres’ combined installed capacity came to fewer than 50,000.
Noting that many prisoners in detention facilities are awaiting trial, Tunji-Ojo advocated for changes to the criminal justice system to enable the prompt administration of justice.
He claims that although the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, where 37 of the benefit convicts were freed, is equipped to house 560 inmates, 730 inmates are presently housed there. He continued by saying that 565 of the 730 prisoners are awaiting trial.
“This demonstrates how packed our custodial facilities are, which makes the project we are launching today necessary. Its goal is to solve the overcrowding issue plaguing our correctional centres and their reformatory duties.
“We are initiating the release of 4,068 prisoners today who are serving various prison sentences instead of fines and/or compensation,” he said.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the majority of the prisoners who are being released from imprisonment are impoverished individuals who were unable to pay their fines and were therefore kept behind bars.
The Minister revealed that in order to free the prisoners, charitable individuals, organisations, and business entities raised N585,000,000.00 as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Therefore, this gesture is eligible to assist all convicts in custodial centres whose penalties and/or compensation total less than one million naira (N1,000,000.00).
“To help them go back to their communities, we are also giving each of them a stipend,” he continued.
Tunji-Ojo urged the benefited prisoners to view their release as a second opportunity to put things right. She advised them to abstain from crime and criminal activity and insisted that everyone must work together with President Tinubu to transform Nigeria into a wonderful country.
He revealed that the federal government made sure the benefited prisoners received the necessary training to improve their lives on a functional level and provide them with the skills they would need to support themselves after being released from prison, emphasising that the government was not simply leaving them to their fates.
He mentioned that the programme also includes techniques for preventing reoffending as well as their civic obligations and responsibilities.
“The benefited inmates have been given a second opportunity to get back on track and contribute to the ongoing development of our dear nation, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mantra of renewed hope,” the statement read.
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The Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of prisoners and stated that the Federal Government is prepared to change both custodial and non-custodial facilities in order to guarantee adherence to international human rights standards and best practises for correctional facilities.
He went on to say that by guaranteeing the custody of deviants and thereby safeguarding society, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has contributed to national security. The government has pledged to support the NCoS in making sure it runs smoothly, particularly when it comes to increasing staffing and improving the welfare of inmates.
He called on the public to welcome these returning citizens with open arms and cautioned against stigmatising the prisoners who were being freed. He stated that stigmatising them could encourage them to break the law again, further endangering society.
He also exhorted the prisoners to be good representatives in their communities and to follow the guidelines and training they had been given while incarcerated.
“They say you can never really know a country until you step foot in its custodial facilities,” he remarked, praising all the parties involved for fulfilling their business social duty in enabling the admirable deed.
He continued by saying that everyone has an interest in seeing to it that criminals are appropriately rehabilitated, reformed, and reintegrated into their communities.
According to Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa, the release of the prisoners was consistent with Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s pledge to maintain the ongoing reforms in the nation’s paramilitary forces.
He pointed out that the NCoS has always struggled with prisoner overpopulation and predicted that the federal government’s action would significantly reduce the number of detention facilities across the nation.
Nababa mentioned that the talents the prisoners learned in the facility included plumbing, building construction, soap-making, artwork, carpentry, fishing, poultry and sewing, among other things, and that these would help them successfully reintegrate into society.
One of the beneficiary prisoners, identified only as Sunday from Anambra State, said he had been serving his two-year sentence with the possibility of a N500,000 punishment for approximately 15 months.
Like other prisoners, Sunday expressed gratitude to the Minister of Interior for helping to secure their release from detention.
“I’m Sunday, and I’m from Anambra. I’ve spent fifteen months here. I received a sentence of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. My family is not wealthy, and there is no way they could raise that kind of money.
“I appreciate the Minister’s efforts in setting us free. I promise that neither he nor the President will see us return to committing crimes. We’re all content right now,” Sunday remarked.
