Even with efforts by the federal government to decongest prisons, the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCS), has disclosed that no fewer than 53,836 inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country are awaiting trial as at December 18.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the spokesperson of the service, Assistant Controller, Abubakar Umar, who made the revelation, said the summary of the inmates across the country by conviction and those on awaiting trial list was 77,849 within the period under review.
He explained that the total number of convicted inmates was 24,013, stressing that the convicted male inmates are 23,569 and 444 convicted are females.
“Statistics shows that 69 per cent of the inmates in Custodial Centres are actually awaiting trial, while 31 per cent are convicted inmates.”
The prison boss pointed out that one of the challenges of the service was the issues of dilapidated custodial structures which resulted to overcrowded and congested spaces within the centres.
The spokesman said the government has recently constructed 3,000 ultra-modern additional custodial facilities across the six geopolitical zones to decongest existing centres.
He further stated that the initiative would help in decongesting the centers as well as enhance the welfare and the health of the inmates.
“That of Kano has been inaugurated and we are expecting speedy completion on the remaining facilities under construction.”
The minister of interior, Tunji Ojo on assumption of duty has launched an appeal fund in which Nigerians have been making contributions, to pay fines of some of those in the custody charged with minor offences.
The first batch of beneficiaries, were recently released after necessary fines paid.
, has disclosed that no fewer than 53,836 inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country are awaiting trial as at December 18.){kind=link}