Nigerian Govt Spends N1 Million Every Year On Each Inmate

Federal Government says that the country is spending N1 million every year to ensure that it caters to each inmate at the correctional facilities.

Federal Minister of Interior of Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola's media adviser Sola Fasure shared over the weekend in Abuja while inaugurating a 20-bed COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund Hospital and Equipment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Port Harcourt city.

"The custodial centres were frighteningly centres for contracting diseases like scabies and tuberculosis, among others," Fasure said, Punch reported. "Happily, this has been addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and is now a thing of the past."

He further shared that these "custodial centres now have access to excellent medical care beyond the centres," noting that they have well-manned clinics and well-stocked pharmacies.

The media adviser explained that there were enormous challenges in running these correctional services that demanded proper infrastructure, equipment and welfare of inmates. Fasure praised the government for working on a long-term solution to tackle these challenges.

He noted that the centre located in Port Harcourt had a capacity for 1,800 inmates but it has more than 3,000 inmates. "The facilities and even the personnel are overstretched, but we are coping and providing long-term solutions to this challenge," the media adviser added.

Fasure explained that one of the solutions is to build mega 3,000-capacity custodial villages in six geo-political zones across Nigeria.

"The one for the South-South is in Bori, not far from here in Rivers," he continued. "The ones for the North-West in Janguza, Kano and the North-Central, in Karshi, Abuja, are ready. Hopefully, we shall inaugurate the one in Kano a few days before our departure."

President Muhammadu Buhari, who served Nigeria since 2015, is all set to step down from his position later this month. Former governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take over the role of president following the Nigerian presidential inauguration to be held on May 29.

Fasure further explained that the work is "steadily" going on to improve the facilities and it has reached an appreciable level.

"Let me also reiterate that the Federal Government will stop feeding inmates incarcerated for breaching state laws," he noted. "As you commence your budget process for next year, include feeding of your inmates."

President Buhari made headlines last week for signing multi-billion Naira contracts before leaving office.

However, the Minister of Transportation, Mu'azu Sambo explained that just because the government will change by the end of this month, doesn't mean that they shouldn't continue to work till the last day.