The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Tuesday, released 3,789 inmates from the custodial centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, bringing the total of those released to 7,713 since the outbreak of COVID-19.
This is to curb the spread of the virus among inmates, according to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Malami, on Tuesday in Abuja at a briefing on the achievement of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion, said since its inauguration, the committee had visited and appraised about 39 prisons in 18 states and had released 7,713 inmates.
He said it was pertinent to note the inadequacy of Nigeria’s custodial facilities, which are currently operating at more than 150% of their capacity.
He said: ‘’Undoubtedly, the COVID19 pandemic has posed its own peculiar challenges in light of the worrisome and dilapidated state of our correctional centres nationwide.
“Without belabouring the facts, it is pertinent to note the inadequacy of our correctional facilities, which are currently operating at more than 150% of their capacity.”
‘‘As part of measures to decongest the custodial centres nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dangers posed to the centres, the HAGF’s office, the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with Presidential Committee on Correctional Service and Decongestion, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and State Executives and Other relevant stakeholders, were galvanised to develop measures to overcome the challenges.”
