President Bola Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional centres across Nigeria as part of a broader initiative to modernise the country’s custodial facilities. This move aims to address the outdated infrastructure of many correctional centres, some of which date back to the 19th century.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the decision during the commissioning of 39 new vehicles and five bullet-resistant guard booths for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Abuja on Friday. He emphasised the urgent need to upgrade the nation’s correctional facilities, citing examples such as the Suleja Correctional Centre, established in 1914, and the Ikoyi facility, built in 1956.
“Suleja Correctional Centre was established in 1914, Ikoyi in 1956, and we even have facilities from the 19th century. We cannot continue to work with such outdated infrastructure,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He added, “The President has graciously approved for us to start the process of relocating 29 correctional centres.”
Tunji-Ojo also spoke about the broader reforms underway in the correctional system, including improvements in officer welfare and career progression. “We are making progress. We are not yet where we need to be, but we are certainly not where we were,” he said, noting that over 50,000 paramilitary officers have been promoted in the past two years.
He stressed the importance of professionalising the correctional service, stating, “We are building a system where the paramilitary will be at the centre of internal security in Nigeria. This is a function of capacity, and capacity is a function of knowledge acquisition.”
The minister further emphasised the need for a rehabilitative approach to corrections. “We are encouraging our officers and ensuring that they are properly trained. But beyond that, we must ensure that the correctional system is not just about punishment but also about rehabilitation and transformation,” he added.
During the event, the Acting Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, expressed his enthusiasm for the newly acquired vehicles and guard booths. The vehicles, designed for transporting inmates to and from courts, will be distributed based on operational needs, while the bullet-resistant guard booths will enhance security at high-risk facilities, including the National Headquarters in Abuja and custodial centres in Kuje, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos.
“The acquisition of these vehicles directly responds to the evolving challenges faced by the NCoS, particularly in ensuring the timely production of inmates in courts. As clearly outlined in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, one of our core functions is the ‘conveyance of remand persons to and from courts in motorised formations.’ These new additions to our fleet will significantly bolster our capacity to meet this critical aspect of our mandate,” Nwakuche explained.
He also highlighted the significance of the new fleet in addressing the issue of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs), who make up 66% of the total inmate population of 80,066 as of February 17, 2025. “With this strengthened fleet, we are poised to improve court attendance, thus playing our part in the swift administration of justice and contributing to the overall decongestion of our correctional facilities,” he said.
Nwakuche commended the dedication of NCoS officers and urged them to maintain the new assets responsibly. “Let us continue to discharge our duties with dedication, integrity, and professionalism. Together, we can build a correctional system that reflects the values of justice, security, and humanity,” he concluded.
The relocation of the 29 correctional centres marks a significant step in the Tinubu administration’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s correctional system, aligning it with international best practices and improving the overall administration of justice.
