Make we gist about wetin government dey plan for our prisons! E be like say dem don allocate over N49 billion for 2026 budget to take care of inmates wey dey waka around for inside prison.
According to the budget breakdown, dem don set aside N40 billion just for food and catering materials. Na wah o! No be say dem go allow inmates dey chop rice and beans from roadside. E no stop for there oh, dem also allocate N1 billion for uniforms, plus another N1 billion for drugs and medical supply.
Better still, dem go use N5 billion for rehabilitation and repairs of prison facilities! As we dey talk now, Nigeria get about 77,438 inmates for correctional centres nationwide, with 50,357 dey wait for trial. Dem get serious matters wey dey ground, like terrorism and armed robbery. Na so 13 correctional facilities don witness escape wahala between 2019 and 2025. This no be small matter!
For February 2025, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, yan say our President, Bola Tinubu, don agree to relocate 29 correctional centres across di country. E say e want modernise di whole system, because many of these prisons don dey since 1950s and na like museum dem be now, e no fit meet modern day requirements.
Omo, Tunji-Ojo talk say this relocation and upgrade go help both officers and the inmates, ’cause long time wahala for infrastructure need to change so dem fit create better rehabilitation system for everyone wey dey inside. E high time we dey take security and rehabilitation outcomes seriously for di country.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Nwakuche wey be Controller General of NCoS don dey shout for National Health Insurance Authority make dem extend health insurance scheme to the inmates. E say this one go fit tackle health issues wey dey plague different prisons and help prevent avoidable deaths among dem. Inmates no be ghosts; dem deserve quality healthcare like normal citizens too!
Na so we dey waka with this matter as we dey watch how government go handle am. Make we dey hope say dem go do better so everything no go just dey carry last for di future.
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