Over 40,000 Inmates Unable To Pay Fines For Release – FG

The Federal Government has revealed that more than 40,000 out of the 79,000 inmates currently held in custodial centres across the country are unable to pay various fines required for their release.

Furthermore, the government is actively seeking collaboration and support from the European Union (EU) to implement vital reforms in the areas of migration and the transformation of Nigeria’s correctional facilities.

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, conveyed these statements during a meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, held in his office in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo, in his commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s relations with the EU, described the relationship as “historical,” as reported by Alao Babatunde, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, in a statement released in Abuja on Saturday.

Expressing deep concern about the substantial number of inmates, exceeding 40,000, languishing in custodial facilities due to their inability to pay various fines, the Minister emphasized key areas of alignment with the ministry’s reforms. These areas include combating irregular migration, addressing organized crime, and upholding the rule of law.

According to him, the EU has the potential to assist the country in deploying technology to enhance border management within Nigeria. He stated, “The European Union is crucial to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Our relationship with the EU is historical and extends beyond bilateral support.”

He continued, “If we are able to solve crime and migration problems in Nigeria, Africa will be better for it. Due to the boundaries Africa shares with the EU, our problems are more of a concern to the EU than any other part of the world. Since we are committed to solving this, we will explore all avenues.”

The Minister also highlighted ongoing reforms, particularly in the areas of travel documentation processes and knowledge transfer. He stated, “We have initiated the process to streamline the bottlenecks in our international passport application and collection process. Significant progress has been made, and we are also working on ways to reduce identity theft to restore the green passport’s pride and integrity.”

Regarding plans to decongest the nation’s correctional facilities, the Minister revealed that over seventy per cent of the 79,000 inmates are awaiting trial. He urged the EU to support the Federal Government’s plan to conduct an audit of all correctional centers and explore non-custodial alternatives provided for in the Correctional Service Act. He stated, “We have over 4,000 inmates in the facilities due to their inability to pay various fines. We believe we can reduce the number of inmates in our correctional facilities by about forty per cent if we explore non-custodial alternatives.”

During the meeting, the Ambassador assured the Minister of the European Union’s support, emphasizing that the EU would provide technical support in managing the illegal aspects of migration, as well as combating human trafficking and people smuggling.