The Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the federal and state governments to urgently address the deteriorating conditions of Nigeria’s correctional centres.
This appeal was made in a statement released by the foundation’s executive director, Yusuf Nurudeen, on Saturday to mark International Prisoners Justice Day 2024.
International Prisoners Justice Day, observed annually on August 10, is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by prisoners and the effects of incarceration on their families.
Nurudeen stated that many of Nigeria’s correctional facilities are overstretched and outdated, leading to severe human rights violations, particularly among the 56,072 inmates awaiting trial, who make up 68% of the prison population.
The foundation urged Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, to prioritise the improvement of these facilities and to ensure that inmates have access to basic rights, including legal representation, education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programmes.
“We stand in solidarity with the inmates across the 253 correctional centres in Nigeria, especially those awaiting trial who are unlawfully incarcerated and dehumanised,” Nurudeen stated.
“These injustices are often rooted in the lack of access to legal representation during their trials.”
The foundation also called on state governments to pass laws enabling them to own and manage correctional services, as allowed by recent constitutional amendments.
They urged the government to ensure sustainable funding for the judiciary, enabling it to perform its functions effectively.
Nurudeen also referenced a recent incident at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, urging the government to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure that the police conduct thorough investigations into the hundreds arrested in connection with the protest.
“We feel it is crucial to remind the @BTOofficial about the dilapidated conditions of our correctional centres. Many of the facilities in these centres are obsolete and excessively overstretched. The 25th of April Suleja MSCC incident is still very fresh in our memory.
“We urge the government to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Further, we call on the @PoliceNG to conduct a quick methodical investigation and if need be, prosecute the hundreds arrested in connection with the protest or release them conditionally or immediately
“This must not take the form of #EndSARs protesters. Their continued incarceration contributes to the overcrowding of our correctional centres, which has led to the untimely death of many inmates,” the statement read.
