Malami proposes decentralisation of Nigeria’s correctional centres

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The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that he has proposed the decentralisation of the Nigerian prisons.

Malami stated this on Thursday at the National Summit on Correctional Centres Reforms in Nigeria held in Abuja, the Nigeria capital.

The AGF said he made the proposal for the decentralisation of the management of the prisons at a recent meeting with state Chief Judges and Attorneys-General.

He added that the proposal, if implemented, would enable the state governments to manage inmates imprisoned for committing state offences while the Federal Government would continue to manage inmates with federal offences.

He disclosed that over 7,000 inmates had been released from Nigeria’s correctional centres over the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

“In a recent event with the state heads of courts and Attorneys-General, I had mentioned that in order to put in place enduring measures for effective management of correctional centres for the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back to the society, the decentralisation of correctional service in the Country has been proposed.

“This will allow states to effectively participate through the setting up of their own correctional centres to manage offenders who commit state offences while the federal government will continue to manage offenders who commit federal offences.

“These are all measures expected to address the problem of congestion in the Correctional Centres as witnessed presently.” he said.