Controller Seeks Better Prisons Facilities

Assistant Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, Zone ‘G’, Mr. Joseph Kumulayi, has called for effective synergy among government agencies to improve prison facilities in the country.
Kumulayi made the call when he briefed newsmen at the end of his quarterly inspection visit to Ebonyi Command of the Nigerian Prisons in Abakaliki on Friday.
He said that the quarterly visit was to enable him assess the state of infrastructure and welfare of personnel and inmates in the zone, noting that most vital facilities in the various commands had either become obsolete, overstretched or dilapidated.
The controller called for collaboration between the state government and the prison authorities to upgrade the facilities. He said that improved facility would assist in the quick and effective discharge of its statutory responsibility.
He thanked the Federal Government for the ongoing reform in the NPS, saying, it would reposition the service.
Kumulayi said the Abakaliki Prison was built to accommodate 387 inmates, but regretted that the yard was now housing about 785 awaiting and convicted inmates.
He called on government to build more prisons in the state to decongest the Abakaliki prison.
“Presently, the number of inmates in the Abakaliki prison yard has by far, outstretched the number originally meant for it to accommodate. The yard is designed to accommodate only 387 inmates, but now we have no fewer than 785 inmates being accommodated in the yard.
“The situation is no doubt affecting effective service delivery as well as poses serious health risk to inmates owing to overcrowding. I, therefore, passionately appeal to the state government to intervene and build more prisons to accommodate the inmates,’’ Kumulayi said.
He said that the Abakaliki prison had only one functional pick-up security and a black-Maria, saying that the logistic situation was impeding its smooth operations.
The controller thanked officers and men of the Ebonyi command for their dedication and commitment to duty, describing the command as the most peaceful in the zone.
He said the Ebonyi command comprises Abakaliki and Afikpo prisons. He warned that the service would not tolerate laxity and truancy, and promised that the NPS was committed to capacity building and the welfare of its staff.
Earlier, Mr Samuel Dibie, Controller of Prisons, Ebonyi Command, appealed to government to build a school for the Afikpo prison, which he said, had a population of 135 inmates.
He said the school would provide functional and qualitative education for the inmates’ self-sustenance after serving their prison sentence.