By Kingston Magare 15.8.2025
Nigeria’s crumbling custodial centres’ infrastructures is causing the Minister of Interior Olubunmi-Ojo concerns.
Most of the 246 custodial centres built in the colonial era are in bad shape and only 12 are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Mr. Olubunmi-Ojo who was speaking during a chat on Channels TV against the background of jail breaks, said that there was little the government of President Bola Tinubu could do to correct the deficit.
“Mr President did not become President 100 years ago. We have 246 correctional centres, and none were established under this administration.
“The one in Ikoyi was established, I think, in 1956. The one where we had the jail break in Suleja, I think, was established in 1914, and there are so many correctional centres that are 100 years old.
“I can tell you that about 12 correctional centres are undergoing rehabilitation,” the minister said.
On what the government was doing to fortify the custodial centres, the minister said, “A lot is going on. There is a lot I wouldn’t want to talk about. As I said, we have 246 correctional centres.
He said, “You cannot expect Mr. President to fix 246 locations — in each location, you can have about 10 structures — within two years. So, what we are doing is we are collaborating.”
Meanwhile a human rights group, Hope Behind Bars Africa, has expressed deep concern over the jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi (new), which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
At least 16 detainees escaped during the incident, while five staff members were injured, with two receiving urgent medical care.
The group said there “is a need for significant investment in infrastructure to modernise dilapidated facilities, measures to reduce overcrowding and policies to address systemic weaknesses”.
“The time for urgent, coordinated action on the state of corrections in Nigeria is now,” the group said.
