Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola is to engage the State Governors to agree on decongestion of the 253 custodial centres, prisons, across Nigeria.

The need to decongest most of Nigerian custodial centres is paramount as most people held in these cenres are awaiting trials. In a recent report by The Daily Trust, The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola,  was quoted as saying  he would meet with state governors to agree on the mass release of at least 30 per cent of inmates from custodial centres across the country. The interface with the State Governors is necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening state laws.And that 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.

The Minister was quoted as saying:

 “I have written to the Nigerian Governors Forum to allow me to come and address them on how they can support the process of decongestion. Because the governors must buy into this system for us to do a massive decongestion, especially of Awaiting Trial Inmates.  If we get the buy-in of state judicial authorities and the government of the states, we can pull out 30 per cent of those who are there. If you look at a man that is caught for petty theft and you are trying him for three years, even if you convict him for that crime, how long will he stay?”

The Minster continued: “How long will that fellow stay, probably six months, but without trial, he will be there for three years. Again, you arrested a boy under the bridge, there is no fixed crime and he is there forever and so on and so forth. So, we need the buying in and support from state governments. This is for them to critically know the situation and let them set up committees that will profile all those who are there. And help either to convict, release them or see if they have overstayed their required time.”

This is a much desired development in characterized understanding as many are in prisons today as a result of trump-up charges.