The House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to urgently upgrade critical infrastructures in correctional centres across the country.
The Committee, led by its chairman, Chinedu Ogah, made the plea in Abuja on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Oga, who represents Iwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, commended the Federal Government for its ongoing reforms being carried out across correctional facilities in the land, especially measures directed at addressing the challenges of overcrowding and feeding of inmates.
Having undergone an assessment tour of some of the facilities, Ogah stated that infrastructural upgrade would go a long way in complementing ongoing reforms by the current administration.
According to him, the visit to the minister was part of efforts to enhance legislative oversight and ensure that government policies reflect international best practices.
He said, “We came to acknowledge and appreciate the innovative leadership style of the Minister. The reforms we are seeing today speak to the intentionality of this administration.
“Nigerians are gaining more respect globally, and within our borders, change is visible in the correctional sector. Yet, there is a need for the upgrade of infrastructure in the nation’s correctional facilities.
“This engagement is not just another oversight function. It is a deliberate effort to commend the interior minister’s strategic leadership and the measurable progress made under his watch.”
The All Progressives Congress lawmaker also noted that the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was beginning to take root in the rehabilitation of reformatory institutions, adding that “This has led to improved international perception of Nigeria’s correctional system, noticeable upgrades to facilities, and increased support for inmate rehabilitation.”
Responding, the Minister stated that under his watch, the nation’s correctional system has embraced a digital and data-driven strategy to make a difference.
He added that decisions regarding the establishment of new custodial centres must be informed by population data and security considerations, rather than politics.
According to him, quality upgrades are underway, citing the Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja, as a model facility where medical surgeries have been conducted successfully due to the availability of modern equipment and a fully functional medical laboratory.
“The President has approved the recruitment of 50 medical doctors and 100 nurses, as well as a directive that all National Youth Service Corps medical members serve in our correctional facilities to boost healthcare access,” he disclosed.
He further added that thousands of inmates nationwide have been enrolled in vocational and life skills programmes, marking a shift from punitive incarceration to reformationu and reintegration.
On security, the Minister stressed the importance of proper location of custodial facilities, saying, “You can’t put a custodial centre in a valley surrounded by unowned hills. That is a security nightmare. Any attacker can gain elevation and compromise our officers and infrastructure,” he warned.
He called on the National Assembly to develop a legislative framework that would promote non-custodial sentencing options, encourage collaboration between federal and state governments, and provide funding for the strategic development of new facilities.
The Minister also informed the Committee that recruitment had commenced into several key agencies under his ministry, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, adding that the online portal for applications is now open to eligible Nigerians.
