FG relocates 29 Custodial Centres

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The  Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed the decision of the   federal government to relocate 29 out of Nigeria’s 256 Custodial Centres due to rapid urbanization.

He stated this this on Friday in Abuja when he commissioned 39 mini green maria for conveyance of inmates to and from courts, and five bullet resistant guard booths at the headquarters of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS in Abuja.

He explained that paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes but lifelong careers that young Nigerians should aspire to get.

“In terms of relocation of our Correctional Centres, the President has graciously approved for us to start the process of relocating about 29 or so, of our Correctional Centres. We have started and we are going to finish it.

“I have also insisted that paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes. This so why the president has graciously approved the paramilitary academy just the way we have the police academy and the Nigeria Defence Academy NDA. The goal is to catch them young. The academy is a degree-awarding institution”, he added.

On his part, Acting Controller General of Corrections CGC, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche said the 39 operational vehicles were specifically procured for the safe and efficient transportation of inmates to and from courts.

“These vehicles will be distributed strategically across our commands, based on identified operational needs and pressing demands.

“In addition to the escort duty vehicles, also to be commissioned today are 5 Bullet Resistant Guard-Booths. These Guard-Booths are stationed at the National Headquarters, Abuja, Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Maximum Security Custodial Centres, Port Harcourt, Kano and Lagos. These are meant to secure our custodial centres against external attacks, and is equipped with long range surveillance capabilities to protect against high level threats with resistance to 12.7mm Ammunition General Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), and other forms of dynamites and explosives. The Guard Booth will therefore, aid early threat detection and facilitate effective combat responses.

“It should be noted that these Bullet Resistant Guard-Booths are indigenously built by EPAIL, a Company based in Lagos.

“The acquisition of these vehicles directly responds to the evolving challenges faced by the NCoS, particularly in ensuring the timely production of inmates in courts. As clearly outlined in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, one of our core functions is the ‘conveyance of remand persons to and from courts in motorised formations’. These new additions to our fleet will significantly bolster our capacity to meet this critical aspect of our mandate”, he stated.