President Bola Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional centres across Nigeria as part of efforts to upgrade the country’s prison system.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this development during the commissioning of 39 newly acquired vehicles and five bullet-resistant guard booths for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Abuja on Friday.
Tunji-Ojo pointed out that many existing correctional centres, including those in Suleja and Ikoyi, were established decades ago and are now outdated.
“Suleja Correctional Centre was built in 1914, Ikoyi in 1956, and some even date back to the 19th century. We cannot continue to work with such old infrastructure,” he said. “The President has graciously approved the process to relocate 29 correctional centres.”
He stressed that upgrading the facilities was necessary to improve conditions for both inmates and correctional officers, assuring that the relocation process had already begun.
The minister also spoke on the government’s commitment to improving officer welfare. He noted that over 50,000 paramilitary officers had been promoted within the last two years, marking a major shift in career progression within the service.
“We are making progress. We are not where we want to be yet, but we are no longer where we were,” he added.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) also unveiled new security measures, including five bullet-resistant guard booths stationed at strategic locations in Abuja, Kuje, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos. These booths are designed to protect against external threats, including heavy weaponry and explosives.
Acting Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, expressed confidence in the impact of the new acquisitions, stating that the additional vehicles would improve the transportation of inmates to and from courts, reducing delays in the justice system.
“With this strengthened fleet, we are poised to improve court attendance, helping to speed up trials and ease congestion in our correctional centres,” Nwakuche said.
As of February 17, 2025, the NCoS reported an inmate population of 80,066, with 66 per cent being pretrial detainees. The new measures aim to address this backlog and enhance the overall efficiency of the correctional system.
