State Governments Urged To Build Holding Centres For Suspects Awaiting Trial

The Federal Government of Nigeria says about 74% of the total population of inmates in its custodial centres, are awaiting trial inmates

It, therefore, urged state governments to build holding centres for suspects awaiting trial in order to address the challenges of congestion in custodial facilities across the country.

In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Blessing Lere-Adams, quoted Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as making the call.

Aregbesola spoke at the inauguration of the Osun Command office complex of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Osogbo.

He noted that the entire national custodial facilities have a maximum capacity for 57,278 inmates.

“But by the last count earlier in the week, there is a total population of 68,747 inmates, made up of 67,422 males and 1,325 females.

“This means that we have shot above the capacity by 18 per cent.”

The minister noted further that 50,992 inmates, representing 74 per cent of the total population of inmates in the custodial centres, were awaiting trial inmates, while only 17,755 inmates, representing 26 per cent, were actual convicts.

Aregbesola urged state governments to work with the Federal Government in addressing the challenges as an overwhelming majority of inmates in custody were state offenders being tried by their respective state governments.