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The Federal Government has said it would stop the feeding of states inmates being held in its custodial centres by December 31, urging state governors to take advantage of recent constitutional amendments that has placed correctional services in the Concurrent Legislative List.
Consequently, the federal government has advised the sub-national entities to establish their own custodial facilities in line with the new amendment.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the appeal at the commissioning of the Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS)l in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Media Adviser to the Minister, Sola Fasure in a statement said Aregbesola argued that the development would help to further decongest the custodial facilities which currently harbour state offenders who make up more than 90 percent of the total number of inmates nationwide.
Aregbesola also added that efforts of the Federal Government have continued to yield positive results with various landmark feats recorded by inmates in detention.
He said since President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law, a constitutional amendment removing the Correctional Service from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List in the Constitution, the Federal Government will stop feeding state inmates by December 31, 2023.
“Furthermore, by January 1, 2024, the Federal Government will stop feeding state inmates kept in federal facilities. State governments must now start budgeting for feeding their inmates in federal facilities while we wait for them to build their own facilities.”, Ogbeni Aregbesola said.
He also also reiterated the need for a comprehensive review of the nation’s criminal justice system in a bid to addressing the alarming figure of inmates who are awaiting trial and languishing in jail.
According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has done a lot in making the reformation process at Custodial Centres impactful through increased budgetary provision as well as the upgrade of old and construction of new infrastructure at the facilities.
