Posted by Kolade Stephen. on 11 May, 2023 under Naija News
3
The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed its plans to spend N22.44 billion in 2023 on the feeding of 75,507 inmates in correctional centres nationwide.
The inmates are spread in 244 custodial centres nationwide, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday made this statement during a high-level conference on corrections and decongestion of custodial centres.
Belgore also revealed that 70 percent of the inmates were awaiting trial.
He attributed the high number of awaiting trial inmates to arbitrary arrests, delay in dispensing justice and inability to meet bail conditions.
The permanent secretary said that the situation had led to the congestion of 82 custodial centres across the country.
“The total number of male inmates are 73,821 and 1,686 are female inmates. Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.
“The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for the feeding of inmates. Failure to take action to decongest the custodial centres will come at a cost.
“The effects of overcrowding in the custodial centres have led to huge revenue drain for the Federal Government.
“Dilapidation of the centres, criminalisation of the society and the inability to separate awaiting trial inmates from convicted persons,â€