News
Lagos, Rivers Top In Prison Congestion
Lagos State is currently leading in prison congestion among states in the country, with a total of 7,396 out of the national total of 68,686.
The prison has a capacity for 3,927 prisoners, indicating that it is almost 100 per cent over-filled, a trend that President Muhammadu Buhari has called a national scandal.
According to a new data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, yesterday, Lagos is closely followed by Kano and Rivers States with 4,424 and 4,183 prison inmates’ population respectively.
Kano can conveniently accommodate just 2,116 prisoners.
Rivers State has one of the worst prisoner congestion ratio as it can take only 1,354, compared to the 4,183 prisoners it accommodates at present.
Bayelsa and Ekiti States have the lowest number of prisoners, with 444 and 585 as at last year.
Even then the two states also failed to reduce the trend as their cells can accommodate only 200 and 400 prisoners.
The NBS’s prison statistics catalogued prison population by Total detainees, prison capacity and number of un-sentenced detainees by state and Year and Prison Inmate Population by Gender from 2011 to 2016.
The study showed a rise in prison population from 65,030 in 2015 to 68,686 last year.
It also showed a rise in over-population of the prisons.
In 2015, the prisons capacity was 49,965.
But the prisoners were 65,033.
In 2016, the capacity rose to 50,803, as the inmates also increased to 68,686.
More revealing is the gender skewness of the population: there are far more men in prisons than women. While male inmates last year were 67,329, the women were 1,357.
The gender ratio in 2015 was similar, 63,668 to 1,357.
In terms of the beliefs of the inmates, there were more Muslims kept in jail between 2015 and 2016, more than Christians.
NBS data shows that 59,940 Christians were incarcerated in the two year period, in contrast with 71,402 Muslims. The number of traditionalists, atheists and others was 11,506.
On 6th October, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concern over the state of the nation’s prisons, noting that it is a national scandal that many prisons are overcrowded by 90 per cent.
He spoke when he hosted a delegation of the judicial arm of government led by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“We need a new approach to prison congestion. It is a national scandal that many prisons are overcrowded by 90 per cent,” he said.
He stressed the need to put in place urgent new measures to speedily decongest the prisons across the country.
He stated that the call had become imperative not only in the interest of justice but to save the cost of prisons’ maintenance and boost the welfare of prisoners.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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