Shortage Of Inmates: NCoS Calls For More Convictions

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) is calling for more court convictions to usher in more inmates. This is no thanks to Civil Societies Organizations, (CSOs) advocacy.

It is no longer congestion; that the courts should be more considerate in clamping jail terms especially on minor offenders. No.

In Cross River State, anxiety is high over a sharp decline in number of inmates, a situation that is reportedly hindering farming and community service programmes.

Speaking at a two-day town hall meeting on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), organised by CLEEN Foundation, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Ibiang Otu, representing the State Controller, Mr William Frai, revealed that the state’s six correctional facilities currently house 897 inmates, the lowest in Nigeria’s South-South region.

According to him, at the Admni facility, which supports farm settlements, there are presently only 37 inmates despite an official capacity of 200.

Otu noted that more inmates are needed to sustain farming activities, urging courts to convict more offenders to either enhance or acquire farming skills.

“We need more inmates to help with farming activities. The courts should convict more suspects.

“However, only young offenders under 30, with minor crimes, are sent to Admni for six months of agricultural training.”

On the contrary, the Calabar Correctional Centre presently exceeds its capacity with 579 inmates instead of 450, while other facilities, including Ikom, Ogoja, Obubra, and Obudu, remain underpopulated.

Otu attributed the decline to heightened advocacy by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the enforcement of ACJL, which encourages non-custodial sentencing.

He disclosed that 18 individuals are currently serving community service sentences but highlighted challenges in monitoring their compliance due to logistical issues.