No fewer than 3,590 inmates throughout custodial centres in Nigeria are on dying row, the Nigeria Correctional Service has revealed.
NCoS Public Relations Officer, Assistant Controller of Corrections Abubakar Umar, made this recognized whereas chatting with the Information Company of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
Umar acknowledged that the entire variety of inmates in centres throughout the nation is 84,741, comprising 82,821 males and 1,920 females, as of September 3, 2024.
The NCoS spokesman put the entire variety of Awaiting Trial Inmates at 57,750, comprising 56,303 males and 1,447 females.
“The breakdown based on their classes is as follows: convicted inmates are 21,900, comprising 21,519 males and 381 females, whereas lifers are 1,501, comprising 1,478 males and 23 females.
“The whole variety of inmates on dying row is made up of three,517 males and 73 females, making a complete of three,590,” he stated.
Umar defined that almost all of inmates in custody are awaiting trial individuals, which poses a big problem for the service because of their excessive numbers.
He, nonetheless, assured that the Service is taking steps to handle the difficulty and to make sure well timed judicial processing for the Awaiting Trial Individuals.
“Because of the initiative and backing of the Minister of Inside, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, we efficiently decreased the inmate inhabitants by releasing 4,063 people who got the choice to pay fines and/or compensation.
“The Service can also be tackling custodial congestion by way of the development of latest services, the growth of neighborhood sentencing, enchancment of court docket logistics, and the implementation of assorted decongestion measures, along with the discharge of inmates,” he stated.
Umar acknowledged that the Service’s efforts to construct partnerships with different businesses have paid off, resulting in enhanced safety and constructive ends in and round custodial services.
He stated, “The Service has taken steps to bolster the safety of custodial services towards exterior threats, and we’ve got maintained a steady and safe atmosphere inside our services, with no incidents of inside rebel.”
Umar additionally famous that the Service had seen important enhancements within the therapy and care of inmates, notably in private reformation, rehabilitation programmes, and profitable reintegration into society.
He added that the partnership between the NCoS and NOUN had yielded sensible outcomes, with a big variety of inmates enrolled in numerous educational programmes, together with superior levels, whereas serving their sentences.
He stated that, as of 31 August 2024, 1,282 inmates had been enrolled within the Nationwide Open College of Nigeria (NOUN) particular examine centre.
“A breakdown based on their numerous programmes consists of: the entire variety of NOUN inmate college students learning for Bachelor of Science levels as of 31 August is 1,215.
“The whole variety of NOUN inmate college students learning for Postgraduate Diplomas and Grasp’s levels as of 31 August is 62.
“Additionally, the entire variety of NOUN inmate college students learning for Physician of Philosophy levels is 5, with three at present writing their thesis,” he stated.
NAN