Many custodial centres are over 100 years old, 12 undergoing rehabilitation — Interior Minister

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that it is rehabilitating 12 of the nation’s 246 custodial centres.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Thursday, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that many of the existing facilities were constructed over a century ago and are now in a state of disrepair.

The Minister said:

“Mr President did not become President 100 years ago. We have 246 correctional centres, and none were established under this administration.

“The one in Ikoyi was established, I think, in 1956. The one where we had the jail break in Suleja, I think, was established in 1914, and there are so many correctional centres that are 100 years old, some 70.

“I can tell you that about 12 correctional centres are undergoing rehabilitation.

“What you look at what this government has been able to do in the last two years with regards to even Port Harcourt prison, which was in a bad state, what the President has been able to do in Kuje, where some weeks ago, major surgeries were held.

“That is beyond the infrastructure. When this government came on board, we had a scenario whereby in some state commands, we didn’t have a single doctor for the correctional centre.

“But the President came, approved the employment of 50 doctors, 100 nurses, and also approved that NYSC doctors should also be posted to correctional centres.

“A lot is going on. There is a lot I wouldn’t want to talk about. As I said, we have 246 correctional centres.

“You cannot expect Mr. President to fix 246 locations — in each location, you can have about 10 structures — within two years. So, what we are doing is we are collaborating.

“Yes, we are not where we want to be, but we are not where we were. And how have we been able to do this? Of course, I have to say a big thank you to the other security agencies

“So, there is a lot of intelligence work that goes into a lot of these things, but I don’t want to go into details.”