Hon. Chinedu Ogah, representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi state, in a motion on the floor of the House has called for the decongestion of the prisons in Nigeria.
In the motion for the decongestion of the Correctional Service Centres in Nigeria, Hon. Ogah alerted his colleagues that the Service, is facing existential challenges that needs immediate attention.
He said that the NCS is currently housing over 70,000 inmates, a situation he said is unsalutary.
He regretted that the prisons were built accommodate not more than 50,000 inmates, pointing out the excess number, is already creating overcrowding the centres, thereby overstretching the dilapidated facilities.
Concerned that only 27% of these inmates have been convicted, while 73% are awaiting trial, Ogah lamented the situation, saying that “most of the inmates in the Correctional Centres across the country are locked up without having been convicted.”
Meanwhile, he expressed worries that the deplorable state of the centres will put the inmates at great risk to their health and safety. He equally emphasized that the approach constitute grave violation of their fundamental rights.
Ogah therefore called for improved implementation of the criminal justice system and adoption of non-custodial measures, saying, such approach would help decongest national prisons.
