Federal Government to increase Prisons holding capacity to 9,000

 

part of efforts to decongest the nation prisons, the FG has said it will expedite action on the immediate completion of at least three out of the six 3,000 capacity mega custodial centres spread across the 4 geopolitical zones.

The development would add 9,000 spaces to the current carrying capacity of Nigerian Prisons.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola expressed this on Monday in Abuja after an inspection tour of one of the facilities located in Karshi town of Abuja.

Nigeria’s entire national custodial facilities have a maximum capacity for 57, 278 inmates.

However, as at the last count, there was a total population of 68,747 inmates, made up of 67,422 males and 1,325 females.

Speaking after the tour, Aregbesola add; “I am impressed with the pace of work and I have asked the contractors to continue working at full speed. The challenge we have is funding and I am going to meet with our dear president on this issue to see how we can get more funds to at least complete three out the six projects.