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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Legend Golden Care Foundation (LGCF), an NGO, has applauded efforts by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to ensure the release of 4,068 inmates, across the country, serving various terms of imprisonment with options of fine or compensation.
The NGO, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mrs. Kanayo Olisa-Metuh, described the initiative as major step by the federal government towards addressing the challenge of congestion of inmates in Nigerian Custodial Centres.
Olisa-Metuh, while lamenting that 69% of inmates at custodial centres, are awaiting trial, noted that the initiative by Tunji-Ojo “aligns with international human rights standards and effective correctional practices but also resonates with her organisation’s mission to achieve systematic change in the overall welfare of the underserved.”
The initiative, which was flagged off at the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre, in Abuja, is targeted at inmates with fines not exceeding N1 million had been hailed by stakeholders as a pivotal step in moves to transform custodial and non-custodial facilities in the country.
However, the LGCF boss called for more stakeholders’ collaboration towards the rehabilitation of released inmates.She also urged the Federal Government to take further action to ensure proper reintegration of the inmates into the society so as to reduce the challenge of recidivism.
According to her, “our work has been centred on Access to Justice, Rehabilitation and Proper reintegration of ex-inmates into the society. Whilst this initiative by the ministry will lead to decongestion of Correctional Centres and other positive changes, the government should take further actions to ensure recidivism is reduced and that the released inmates are properly reintegrated into the society.
“With loss of livelihood and oftentimes nowhere to go to, released inmates are sometimes left to wander, which leads some to go back to crime. We suggest that the Government look towards establishing half way homes or centres for ex-inmates to cushion the effects of incarceration and ultimately ease their return back into society.
“This can be done by engaging in partnerships with civil societies and the private sector. We also urge the State Governments to ensure that in establishing State Correctional Centres, provisions are also made to establish these half way homes and centres.”
Olisa-Metuh added “Statistics show that 69 percent of the inmates in Custodial Centres are actually awaiting trial. That shows that the leading cause of congestion in correctional centres are inmates awaiting trial.
“Whilst the Initiative caters for convicted inmates, we equally call on the Judiciary to look into programmes and initiatives that will speed up the dispensation of justice and ultimately reduce awaiting trial inmates. We believe this will go a long way to ultimately decongest our correctional centres.”
