Nigeria’s Federal Government has stated it is prepared to collaborate with pertinent parties to decongest Nigeria’s prisons.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the remark during a round table talk with Prisoner Rehabilitation And Welfare Action and representatives of donors today in Abuja.
This was said in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Afonja Ajibola, the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations.
According to Aregbesola, the country’s prisons are overcrowded with inmates who are awaiting trials, on death lists, unable to pay debts and fines, and some who have committed just minor offenses.
Less than 20% of those incarcerated are first-time offenders, according to the ministry.
Aregbesola thanked the stakeholders for their assistance and pleaded with them to work with the federal government to decongest the custodial facilities by providing not only financial help but also technical and intellectual assistance.